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In-Depth Coverage

Original Commentaries

08/07/08
How to Deal with Jerusalem  —Lt. Col. (Res.) Ron Shatzberg, Project Director, Economic Cooperation Foundation. Interview with Middle East Bulletin.
08/07/08
How to Deal with Jerusalem  —
08/05/08
Why Did Maliki Call for a Timeline?  —by Christopher Kojm who teaches at the Elliott School of International Affairs at George Washington University and is a former senior advisor to the Iraq Study Group. Original Commentary for Middle East Bulletin.

Setting the Record Straight

Already Divided

“Even the Arab minority in the city has shown its preference for living under Israeli rule, as many have moved to the Israeli side of the security barrier being built around Jerusalem. Their choice is reasonable, as Jerusalem offers the quality of life of a modern western city while only a few kilometers away the norm is a third world standard of living, chaos and religious intolerance. An undivided Jerusalem is the best guarantee of a better life for all Jerusalemites.”
—Nathan Diament, Director of Public Policy, Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, July 23, 2008 versus
  • “Those who believe that Jerusalem should not be divided, and mean by that that the Arab neighborhoods should not be separated from the city, should be the first to insist that an active policy be adopted by the government and the municipality to improve the lot of local Arab residents. Barring that, Jerusalem will continue to remain a divided city.”
    —Moshe Arens, former Israeli defense and foreign minister (Likud), “A Story of Neglect,” Haaretz, July 28, 2008
  • Middle East Analysis

    December 14, 2007

    At the moment, and in all other moments that have culminated in this one, words have comprised the backbone of the somewhat spineless Israeli-Palestinian process. Now that the Annapolis meeting is over, the time has come for our leaders to talk less and do more… Luckily for all stakeholders involved, the wheel did not need to be re-invented in Annapolis. The parameters outlined in previous negotiations form a firm foundation for any agreement. …

    In contrast to previous milestones, the post-Annapolis period must mark a milestone where words, speeches, and declarations are leveraged into a sustainable, pragmatic process.

    With the help of the United States, the international community, and the moderate Arab world, our leaders are currently faced with an exquisite opportunity to lead the Israeli public into a new era: An era in which Israel will live in peace alongside Palestine; An era in which a growing part of the state budget is allocated to education, health, welfare, infrastructure, industry and the development of the Negev and the Galilee; An era in which 22 Arab Embassies will be established in western Jerusalem; A time where compulsory military service will be shortened and Israel’s borders and capital will finally be recognized by the international community. Access the full article>>