Special Report

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THE COVER

Really United? from page 13

the Jerusalem Institute found. However,
studies also have found that most Israelis
would not choose to live in Jerusalem,
which they view as dangerous and impov-
erished.
"If this trend continues, by 2025 about
50 percent of the city will be Palestinian,
and that means Jerusalem will be a bina-
tional city," Hebrew University geographer
Shlomo Hasson said. "The capital of a
Jewish and democratic state would be a
binational city. This is the first step toward
a binational state, so the question is: 'What
needs to be done?'
"You can say every city is divided when
you look at the deeper issues such as reli-
gion and economy. Some are more divided
than others:' Hasson said. "We don't live in
a divided city. We live in a polarized city"
Just as educated, secular Jews are flee-
ing Jerusalem, many of the city's Arab
elite are leaving for the nearby West Bank
city of Ramallah, which in recent years
has replaced eastern Jerusalem as the
Palestinians' economic and cultural hub
because of the economic and logistical dif-
ficulties of life in Jerusalem.
Meanwhile, reflecting a change in recent
years, the Jerusalem Institute poll found
that 58 percent of Israeli Jews are in favor
of concessions on Jerusalem as part of
a possible future peace deal with the
Palestinians.

Defense Minister Moshe Dayan, center, Chief of Staff Yitzchak Rabin, right, and
Jerusalem Commander Uzi Narkis enter through the Lion's Gate into Jerusalem's

Old City shortly after its capture on June 7, 1967.

Lack Of Infrastructure
Steeped in history and religious signifi-
cance, Jerusalem is among the most dif-
ficult issues in Israeli-Palestinian negotia-
tions. Palestinians claim the eastern part
of the city as their future capital, a claim

most Israelis continue to reject, although
it reportedly was part of the Israeli gov-
ernment's offer to Palestinian negotiators
during peace talks in 2000.
Dore Gold, president of the Jerusalem
Center for Public Affairs think tank, said
the essence of the conflict over Jerusalem
is more religious than economic or
political, but Israeli authorities do have to
address the problems of the eastern part
of the city.
"We have to invest a lot more in
Jerusalem if we want to strengthen our
claim:' he said.
Infrastructure is something of a disaster
in eastern Jerusalem. There is a shortfall
of some 1,000 school classrooms, short-
ages in most public services and other
infrastructure needs, ranging from water
to sewage lines, proper roads and public
transportation.
Living conditions are overcrowded, as
the municipality rarely gives building
permits to eastern Jerusalem residents.
Some say that is part of a policy to restrict
development and planning in Arab parts
of the city.
Some observers see a policy of deliber-
ate neglect by authorities who want to
push Palestinians out of the city. Others
say it's simply a problem of representa-
tion: Arab residents of eastern Jerusalem
who were brought under Israel control in
1967 do not recognize Israeli sovereignty
and, in protest, have elected not to vote in
municipal elections.
Arab Jerusalemites, who receive Israeli
medical insurance and social security

Really United? on page 16

Detroit Rallied 'Round Israel

Philip Slomovitz

In the weeks leading up to the
Six-Day War, Detroit Jewry
mobilized to help Israel however
it could.
The May 26,1967, Detroit
Jewish News reported on
a statement adopted at an
"emergency meeting attended
by Detroit's community lead-
ers," organized by the Jewish

Community Council.
Dr. Samuel Krohn, Council president, sent a tele-
gram to President Lyndon Johnson asking him to
"quickly and publicly reaffirm repeated undertakings
and commitments to protect the territorial integrity
of Israel" and called for similar telegrams to be sent
to the president, the secretary of state and congres-
sional representatives.
The statement also asked the U.S. to be prepared
to support "free passage" (Israeli access) in the
Straits of Tiran and the Gulf of Aqaba, as President
Johnson had promised, and stated, "It is important

14

June 7 2007

that the victims of aggression not be confused with
the aggressors."
Community members also were urged to purchase
Israel Bonds and pay their pledges to the Jewish
Federation's Allied Jewish Campaign.
On June 4, less than 24 hours before the war
began, more than 6,000 people attended a "Freedom
and Democracy Rally for Israel" at the Jewish
Community Center at Meyers and Curtis in Detroit.
Among the many speakers was Leonard Woodcock,
vice president of the United Automobile Workers,
who told those assembled on the playground that
"the cause of Israel is not just a cause for the Jews
of the world, but for all freedom-loving people."
More than $1.5 million was sent to Israel from the
Federation; Israel Bond purchases topped $600,000;
and more than 200 people signed up to go to Israel
to help once the ban on travel to the Middle East was
lifted.
Rallies and prayer events were held at many other
sites; medical equipment was collected and doctors
volunteered their services; and youth offered to do

odd jobs to raise money. Detroiters also participated
in a national rally held across from the White House.
Some 1,500 Detroiters attended a June 12 Israel
Bonds Emergency Dinner at Cobo Hall, where $3.5
million in Bonds were sold. The dinner also honored
JN publisher Philip Slomovitz on the 25th anniver-
sary of his publication. Slomovitz, who had returned
from Israel just before the war broke out, spoke at
many of the community fundraising and advocacy
events.
Golda Meir, at the time the former foreign minister
and not yet Israeli prime minister, visited Detroit
on June 16, speaking at a campaign luncheon and
an evening program at Temple Israel. Before the
event, $4.25 million dollars had been collected for
the Federation's Emergency Campaign. By June
21, Federation Director William Avrunin was able to
report to Detroiter Max Fisher, who was national
general chairman of the United Jewish Appeal at the
time, that Detroit had contributed $6.5 million to the
emergency campaign.

- Don Cohen, JN special writer