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The Response to Israel's Announcement Is Disproportionate

(Telegraph-UK) Ron Prosor - Let's get the facts straight. Ramat Shlomo is not in "east" Jerusalem as often reported, but in the north of Jerusalem. It is not a new settlement, but an existing, established neighborhood, home to some 16,000 strictly Orthodox Jews, who represent the fastest growing section of Israeli society. Most cool-headed analysts agree that Jerusalem suburbs such as Ramat Shlomo will be considered part of Israel under any negotiated two-state solution. For Israel, Jerusalem is the heart of the Jewish people, established as our eternal capital by King David, some 3,500 years ago. Jews have lived, worked and prayed in the city from time immemorial. Throughout the generations, Jews have been the largest community in Jerusalem. In modern times, the only period when Jews were restricted from living throughout Jerusalem was between 1948 and 1967. Under Arab Jordanian control, Jewish communities were ruthlessly and violently driven out of areas where they had lived for centuries. It would be virtually unimaginable for an Israeli government to restrict the rights of Jews to live in Jerusalem. Israelis disagree on nearly everything, but on the sovereignty of our capital city we are overwhelmingly united. Describing Jerusalem as a "settlement" is unhelpful, historically flawed and undermines negotiations. The writer is Israel's ambassador to the UK.
2010-03-19 10:36:14
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