Israel Hems In a Sacred City

[DuctapeFatwa]

Israel is close to finishing a decades-long effort to surround Jerusalem with Jewish settlements, walls, fences and roads that will severely restrict Palestinian access to the city and could reduce the chance of its becoming the capital of a Palestinian state, according to documents, maps and interviews with Israelis, Palestinians and foreign diplomats.

Projects to cut off access to Jerusalem to Palestinians living in the West Bank, which borders the city on three sides, have accelerated since the start of the current Palestinian uprising in September 2000. Today, Jewish settlements outside the city have been integrated with the urban core, redrawing the map of Jerusalem...

At the same time, a new barrier combining trenches, walls, electronic sensors and steel fences is being built around Jerusalem. The project, part of a large fence that is designed to cordon off the West Bank, has split some Palestinian neighborhoods and separated many Palestinians from their schools, jobs, families and lands.

A spokesman for Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, Raanan Gissin, denied that Israeli actions around Jerusalem were an attempt to predetermine the city's future or to prevent the emergence of a Palestinian state..."Jerusalem is not going to be a Palestinian capital -- that's the position of this government," Gissin said...The Israeli goal, according to Israelis and Palestinians, is to fill the gaps between those settlements until they are no longer a series of dots but a solid line of Jewish homes, businesses and industries....


http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A27078-2004Feb9?language=printer

[Muddleoftheroad]

1. It's supposed to...

eliminate "the chance of its becoming the capital of a Palestinian state."

It's the capital of Israel, that's why.

[mac2]

2. Capital of Israel?

Seems to be a disagreement over that by Christians and Muslims. It should be a Holy City...to be shared by all religious groups living together. Isn't that what Abraham would have wanted for his decendents?

Streets full of tanks and shooting isn't very godly for any group.How can that be justified?

[GabysPoppy]

3. It could be both

Once you remove the elements of terrorist activities that is.

[Muddleoftheroad]

4. Lots of people dispute all sorts of things

That doesn't make them accurate.

It IS a Holy City. Israel indeed shares it, unlike when it was under Arab control. Also, Israel does not seek to desecrate sacred sites, again unlike their Arab/Muslim counterparts.

Streets full of tanks and soldiers are necessary when you have enemies who seek to not just destroy your nation, but kill your women and children as well.

[forgethell]

5. the Christians &

the Muslims don't control Jerusalem. That is a paart of what the dispute is about. right now, the Israelis are in power.

[Blitz]

6. The vast majority of the Christians in the U.S. Senate

and House of Representatives seem to think of Jerusalem as the Capital of Israel and regularly reaffirm this view through their votes on the record.

[number6]

7. Sacred City an armed camp...

Isreal one big military base ..

[Blitz]

8. Ever been to Israel?

Judging from your post, I'd say that you haven't but I don't want to assume.