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Netanyahu Sends a Message on Jerusalem

(Jerusalem Post) Herb Keinon - During his recent visit to the U.S., Prime Minister Netanyahu, referring to the move by a number of Jewish families into Jewish-bought property in the City of David in Jerusalem, strongly rejected the premise that Arabs have the right to buy property throughout the capital, but Jews do not. Referring to the news that another bureaucratic hurdle in building a new development in the southern Jerusalem neighborhood of Givat Hamatos had been passed, he said that a large chunk of the development is reserved for Arabs, and that it was not a new settlement, but rather a neighborhood within the municipal boundaries of the capital. He recommended that American officials commenting on the matter learn the facts before issuing responses. Why did Netanyahu not shy away from going toe-to-toe with the White House? Because this is Jerusalem. Because he wanted to send an unmistakable message that Jerusalem is different, that Jerusalem is the heart and soul of the Jewish people. This was Netanyahu making clear that when he says that Jerusalem will remain the undivided capital of Israel, he actually means it. This was Netanyahu telling the American people that Israel does not intend to apologize for the "Judaizing" - as the Palestinians have often referred to it - of Jerusalem. Netanyahu felt able to forcefully stress this point because he feels he has the backing of the vast majority of the Jewish Israeli public on this issue.
2014-10-13 00:00:00
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