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Shaul Mofaz
Photo: Ofer Amram
Haim Ramon
Photo: Niv Calderon

Mofaz: Jerusalem not piece of real estate

Kadima members slam Ramon's proposal to cede control of Arab neighborhoods in capital as part of peace agreement with Palestinians. 'This is not the time for concessions,' transportation minister says. Ramon: Jerusalem no longer Zionist

Transportation Minister Shaul Mofaz disparaged Deputy Prime Minister Haim Ramon over his call on the government to cede control of Arab east Jerusalem to the Palestinians and establish joint sovereignty over the city's holy sites.

 

Speaking at a Kadima party convention on Thursday, Mofaz said, "Jerusalem is not a piece of real estate, and no one has the authority to redivide it."

 

"Hamas and Fatah will end up back in each others' arms. Qassams are still falling, (kidnapped IDF soldier) Gilad Shalit is still there, and today it is totally clear to us that an IDF operation will come," he said. "This is not the right time to pursue a permanent agreement or make concessions."

 

Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni told her fellow party members that Jerusalem must remain Israel's capital, but added that "we must enter negotiations (with the Palestinians)".

 

'We will have to give up the Muslim parts'

Internal Security Minister Avi Dichter, for his part, said Israel should unilaterally demarcate its final borders with the West Bank.

 

"It is a mistake to speak of a final agreement … We need to demand the demarcation of the borders as mentioned in Kadima's election program, which includes a united Jerusalem," he said.

 

Ramon, for his part, countered by saying that "Jerusalem is no longer Zionist. It does not have a Zionist majority, and in 20 years it will no longer have a Jewish majority.

 

"We must forgo major parts of Jerusalem to maintain the majority and keep control of the areas that are important to us. We will have to give up the Muslim parts," he said.

 

According to Ramon's proposal, which adopted Clinton's outline in the 2001 peace talks, east Jerusalem will be divided among the two states and holy sites in the Old City will be under the control of the various religions and no national flags will be flown.

 

In his talks with the Palestinians, the deputy PM pledged that immediately after the agreement is signed, Israel would hand over to the Palestinians three east Jerusalem neighborhoods, as a gesture of goodwill.

 

""There will be special sovereignty over the holy sites, taking into account Israel's unique interests in overseeing them. Within this framework the Western Wall, the Jewish Quarter and other holy sites in the Jerusalem vicinity will remain under Israeli rule forever," Ramon wrote in his position paper.

 


פרסום ראשון: 09.20.07, 21:54
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