Netanyahu Rejects Own DM’s Statement on Jerusalem Sharing
Comments on Giving Up East Jerusalem Just 'Opinion'
Officials close to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are angrily disavowing comments made by Defense Minister Ehud Barak in a recent Washington DC talk, in which Barak said that the division of Jerusalem would be worked out in the final peace settlement with the Palestinian Authority.
Barak indicated that Israel would retain control over all of Western Jerusalem as well as the Jewish settlements in Occupied East Jerusalem, but would cede control over Arab neighborhoods to the Palestinians. The officials insist Barak did not ask Netanyahu before this claim and that it was “just his opinion.”
Netanyahu has repeatedly insisted Israel would retain control over East Jerusalem eternally, and has angrily rejected references to settlements in East Jerusalem, insisting that the settlements aren’t technically settlements because he claims full authority over all of Jerusalem.
Israel has announced several major settlement expansions in East Jerusalem and continues to expel Arabs, suggesting Barak’s “opinion” won’t be a difference from the Netanyahu government’s claim over the whole region for long. Israel occupied East Jerusalem in 1967 and its claims over the city are not internationally recognized.
Last 5 posts by Jason Ditz
- No Deal: US Restarted Pakistan Drone Strikes Despite Objections - February 22nd, 2012
- Syrian National Council Demands Foreign Invasion - February 22nd, 2012
- State Dept.: Pakistani Taliban 'Not Welcome' at Truce Talks - February 22nd, 2012
- Israeli FM: Our Decision to Attack Iran None of US, Russia's Business - February 22nd, 2012
- Hunger Strike Ends, but Adnan's Detention Without Charges Doesn't - February 22nd, 2012
BUTSeriously
December 12th, 2010 at 11:40 pm
Whatever indicates destruction of Israel – will always be the demands of the EU & Islamic sectors. These do not use gas chambers anymore – they perform Heil Hitler salutes at the UN. Truth is Israel is a 4000 year nation which has never stolen anyone's land ever – while her accusers have done this wherever they throd.
At least the Nazis were honest about it.
pwi
December 13th, 2010 at 2:33 am
They may not be internationally recognized but very little international pressure has yielded no change in the ownership of the city for 43 years and counting.
On the ground Jerusalem, all of it, is controlled by Israel and until someboday actually takes it from them, and good luck with that being easy or bloodless, that is the facts on the ground.
Where Israeli public opinion and support is iffy on many of the settlement's of the West Bank, opinion is far less flexible over Jerusalem even amoung the lefter leaning parties. Livini and Kadima won't be giving up Jersualem easily either.
Peter
December 13th, 2010 at 10:51 am
Last I check Israel is not 4,000 years old and your delusional paranoria of people asking for Israel's destruction works in lala land but in the real world people are actually trying to help Israel understand the world around it and save its "Jewish identity" with a two state solution. Israeli leaders own greed is preventing them from seeing the forest from the trees.