Prof. Shaul Mishal
Photo: Michael Kramer
The Jerusalem factor
Israel, Palestinians must place Jerusalem at top of peace process agenda
Part 2 of article
In practice, four entities related to the Palestinian identity exist today: The West Bank, the Gaza Strip, Jerusalem, and Arab citizens of Israel.
This is how Jerusalem has gained special status and turned into a meeting place for all these camps.
In the wake of the establishment of the security fence, which created a buffer highlighting the separation between Jerusalem and other parts of the West Bank, the capital has turned into a sort of separate Palestinian entity, alongside the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
Part 1
Shaul Mishal
Recent events in Jerusalem, Bibi’s heritage sites decision may spark great fire
Jerusalem’s sensitivity to any development related to ties between Jews and Arabs is compounded by growing international involvement, coupled with disagreements among various elements that on normal days belong to the same camp.
The US and Europe are divided over the required strategy vis-à-vis Israel in the face of its policy towards the east Jerusalem population. Europe does not see eye to eye with America’s policy nor with the soft US attitude towards Israel in respect to the latter’s approach to the population and real estate in the city - as highlighted by allowing Jewish takeover of homes housing Arab families in the east of the capital. The European Union is even prepared to support the PA and transfer funds earmarked for Palestinian construction and the acquisition of land as a step that counters Israel’s initiative to expand the Jewish hold on the area.
The internal tensions between Hamas and the Palestinian Authority, as well as the disagreements between the domestic Hamas and the group’s leadership abroad are also channeled to the Jerusalem theater, while each side attempts to ensure its presence and influence in the Palestinian arena. This is based on the assumption that this is where Palestine’s future will be determined. In addition, Jerusalem is a convenient location for open civilian activities compared to the Gaza Strip and to the West Bank.
Clock is ticking
The clock is ticking and we are approaching, with sure steps and eyes wide shut, a “White Intifada” that may be reminiscent of the velvet revolutions that took place since the end of the 1980s when several communist governments were toppled in Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria and east Germany within a few months. In Czechoslovakia, the communist government was removed. These revolutions cleared the way for similar revolutions that took place outside Europe too.
What can be done in order to prevent an outburst that will weaken Israel’s position in any future negotiations on the Palestinian question, and mostly on the matter of Jerusalem? As opposed to the current model of negotiations that started with the major issues of territory, settlements, and the right of return, with the question of Jerusalem being raised in the midst of all this commotion, the tables must be turned and we must start at the end.
We need to place Jerusalem at the top of the Israeli-Palestinian agenda. This is the source of hope as well as the source of trouble that needs to be contended with through leadership courage and historic soberness. We cannot beat around the bush, delude ourselves, and wink to the world outside that there are other ways to resolve this complicated story.
Perhaps the time has come to turn our four ministers without a portfolio into a strategic ministerial committee dedicated to addressing the Jerusalem problem. Moshe Yaalon, Yossi Peled, Benny Begin, and Dan Meridor are a leading group of people representing the full political spectrum and the solid collective logic needed in order to look history in the eye.
At first it will be difficult but later it will be as clear as day. What is unthinkable today will turn into something obvious the next day.
Prof. Shaul Mishal from Tel Aviv University is a Hamas and radical Islam researcher
