not cope with the phenomenon: They lacked the
space, budget and tools to provide the Arab popula-
tion with modern housing inside the Old City walls.
Providing alternative housing would be too costly —
and would go against the Palestinians' nationalist credo.
The result: an increasing pace of illegal construction,
with rooms crowding on top of each other and base-
ments turned into living quarters. Some 25 percent of
the flats in the Muslim Quarter have no showers, and
with sad and angry eyes.
GIL SEDAN -
a number. of families often share the same toilet.
"Why
don't
you
understand?
We
don't
want
you
Jewish Telegraphic Agency
Some Jewish families also are moving into the Muslim
here," said tour guide Ali Jadda, who spent 17 years in
Quarter,
living in homes purchased from Arab owners in
Israeli jails for throwing a grenade in the western part
Jerusalem
roundabout
ways. Under the guidance of the Ateret
of the city, wounding nine Israelis. "You are welcome
ince the Palestinian intifada (uprising)
Cohanim
settlers'
organization, these Jews hope ona, day
as tourists, but as occupiers you are not wanted here."
began two years ago, Jerusalem Mayor
to
outnumber
Arabs
in the Old City.
That is the story in a nutshell: Many Jerusalem
Ehud Olmert had boasted that Arab resi-
families
live under heavy protection:
.
The
Jewish
Arabs see the Jews as occupiers.
dents of eastern Jerusalem had opted to
Surveillance cameras transmit images of people
"One
should
not
forget
the
facts:
It
is
us
who
stay out of the violence for fear of losing Israeli
came to them; they did not come to us," said Meron approaching the Jewish residences to the Old City
social service benefits.
police headquarters, and armed guards respond to
Benvenisti, a former deputy mayor of Jerusalem.
With the recent arrest of an eastern Jerusalem ter-
knocks on the doors.
In Israel's 1948 War of Independence, Arab sol-
rorist cell deemed responsible for several attacks —
Some 6,000 families, or about 35,000 people, live
diers forced the Jews from the Old City's Jewish
including the July 31 bombing of a Hebrew
in
the Old City. Sixty-eight percent of them are
Quarter, ending a presence dating back centuries. In
University cafeteria that killed nine people —
Muslims,
24 percent Christians and 8 percent Jews.
the ensuing 20 years of Jordanian occupation, evi-
Israelis were left asking: Arabs in
Unlike the Muslims and
eastern Jerusalem, too?
Jews, the Christians are eager
The discovery of the cell coin- t'<
to leave, often emigrating
---.,
cided with a survey by the
overseas.
Jerusalem Institute for Israel
Given the heavily politi-
Studies that reported alarming
cized atmosphere and the
I V' ' s ?A•44'
figures concerning the standard
incitement by Palestinian
of living in Jerusalem's Old City
Authority agents, economic
E
and raised questions about 35
incentives aren't enough to
years of Israeli rule there.
win Israel much loyalty from
Unlike Israeli Arabs, most Arab
Jerusalem's Arabs.
residents of eastern Jerusalem who
The seizure of the terrorist
came under Israeli rule following
gang is unlikely to change
the 1967 Six-pay War do not
political views about the fate
carry Israeli citizenship. They are
of eastern Jerusalem.
not entitled to Israeli passports,
Critics of the government,
are not entitled to vote and can-
like Benvenisti, say the most
not be elected to national bodies.
Israel can hope for is to keep
They are eligible to vote in
the situation under control.
municipal elections, though most
Hawks like Internal Security
choose not to — with help from
Minister Uzi Landau and his
Palestinian grOups — so as not to
deputy, Gideon Ezra, say the
The Arab neighborhood of Silwan in eastern Jerusalem, bottom right, where a cell of Hamas terrorists had cell's capture shows that anti-
legitimize Israeli rule in the city.
been operating, is not far from Hebrew University; top right, where the cell set off a deadly bomb July 31.
Still, they have Israeli identity
Israel feelings are endemic in
cards, which allow them free
the Palestinian population,
movement throughout Israel and
regardless
of
their
social
and economic condition.
dence of Jewish history was systematically destroyed.
relatively free movement in and out of the West
The
fact
that
the
cell
members
received Israeli social
In 1967, after it was attacked by Jordan, Israel
Bank — freedom that the terrorist gang allegedly
benefits
and
worked
in
Israel
proves
it is not poverty
captured the Jewish Quarter and the other parts of
put to bloody use.
that
causes
terrorism,
they
say.
eastern Jerusalem. The conquered parts were
Most importantly, Arabs in eastern Jerusalem are
Some are looking beyond last week's news to possible
annexed to Israel, but — fearful of changing the
entitled to the range of social benefits available to all
political
solutions. The Jerusalem Institute study points
country's demographic balance — the inhabitants
Israelis, such as national health insurance, unem-
at
eight
alternative
solutions to the conflict over
were not offered citizenship.
ployment payments, minimum wage benefits, child
Jerusalem.
Thus, just as the Arabs do not want the Jews in
allowances and other social security benefits.
Ruth Lapidot, a law professor who chaired the
Jerusalem,
many would say that the Israeli authori-
It was access to such services that Olmert figured
report
team, prefers one of the alternatives: Both
ties do not regard the city's 220,000 Arabs as equal
would deter residents of eastern Jerusalem from join-
Israel
and
the Palestinians relinquish sovereignty
partners.
ing the Palestinian campaign of terror — a calcula-
claims
in
the
Old City and try to reach a functional
The Jerusalem Institute for Israel Studies' report
tion that authorities now say was tragically wrong.
agreement on running the holy area.
showed
the
poor
living
situation
in
the
Old
City.
Though far fewer Israelis and tourists visit the Old
Israel has been open to various compromise pro-
With some 280 people - per acre, it is one of the most
City today than in past years, very few hostile acts
posals,
but the Palestinian Authority insists on full
crowded places on earth. The population has grown
have been carried out against visitors.
sovereignty
over all Arab neighborhoods and denies
rapidly since the unification of the city in 1967, both
But the hatred is still there. The merchants look
that
the
Jews
have any connection to the Temple
due to natural growth and the illegal immigration of
at the few Israelis who dare to enter the Old City
Mount,
the
Old
City's crown jewel and the holiest
Arabs from the West Bank who wanted to enjoy
walls — mostly religious Jews on their way to the
site
in
Judaism.
Western Wall or other sites in the Jewish Quarter — Israeli social service benefits. Israeli authorities could
Boiling Pot
Discovery of Jerusalem terror cell prompts look at Israel's stewardship.
S
.
❑
314
8/30
2002
29