Explains why dividing Jerusalem won't help and will exacerbate situation

Explains why dividing Jerusalem won't help and will exacerbate situation
Exec Summary
In light of the current situation, why not Divide Jerusalem?
By Hillel Fendel and Chaim Silberstein, <www.KeepJerusalem.org>

If the Arabs are even willing to give their lives randomly stabbing and running us over to death, why don't we just come reach an "agreement" with them? Why not just divide Jerusalem, and hand over the Arab neighborhoods to the Palestinians? This would increase the Jewish population percentage, removing the rug from under murderous Palestinian terrorism in the city, and possibly even leading to a historic peace agreement?

In addition to being unreasonable from a historic and national Jewish standpoint, it would actually exacerbate the situation. Dividing Jerusalem would not improve security but would rather worsen it, and would not increase the Jewish majority in the city, but would rather diminish it.

Newly-endangered Jews would likely not remain in the city, and a demographic crisis would result. In the past, many Arabs who found themselves on the "other" side of the security fence simply moved back "inside." Furthermore: They have now also begun moving into Jewish neighborhoods.

In short: To withdraw from Arab neighborhoods would decrease neither the terror nor the demographic threats in Jerusalem; it would enhance both.



Full Article
Why Not to Divide Jerusalem?
By Hillel Fendel and Chaim Silberstein, <www.KeepJerusalem.org>

Time after time, the temptation arises: If the Arabs are so intent on claiming parts of Israel and Jerusalem, and are even willing to give their lives randomly stabbing and running us over to death, why don't we just come towards them, reach an "agreement," and give them some pieces of land that anyway are mostly Arab-populated?

This approach formed the basis both for the failed Oslo Agreements of 1993-5, and the tragic, wars-causing Disengagement/Expulsion from Gush Katif in 2005. It also led to the panicky retreat from southern Lebanon, paving the way for the strengthening of Hizbullah there. It also stands at the fore of the continued calls to leave Judea and Samaria, and is the reason why Peace Now, Ir Amim and other radical left-wing organizations work for our withdrawal from the Arab neighborhoods of Jerusalem.

Let's consider the last idea: What do we need the Arab neighborhoods of Jerusalem for? Why not just divide Jerusalem, thus increasing the Jewish population percentage in our holy city, removing the rug from under murderous Palestinian terrorism in the city, and possibly even leading to a historic peace agreement with our enemies?

The answer is simple, though three-fold:
1. It is unreasonable from a historic and national Jewish standpoint.
2. It is cumbersome, not implementable, and unworkable.
3. It would even exacerbate the situation. Division of Jerusalem would not improve security but would rather worsen it, and would not increase the Jewish majority in the city, but would rather diminish it.

Detailed research on this matter strongly buttresses the above conclusions, including the scenario that tens of thousands of Arabs would flood Jewish neighborhoods if there were to be a division of any sort. This of course does not even take into account the damage to the Jewish People's historic and religious bonds with the Holy City.

To simply redraw the municipal boundaries of Jerusalem thus that Arab-populated neighborhoods such as Isawiya (adjacent to French Hill), Jabel Mukabber (next to East Talpiot), and Sur Bahir (near Har Homa) are on the "other side" appears simple and effective – in theory. But on the ground, the Jewish residents of these and other neighborhoods will abruptly find themselves guarding the border –  exposed to close-range shooting attacks, rockets, and mortar shell fire. The lives of close to a quarter of a million Jews living in eastern Jerusalem would be in daily peril.

How many of them would remain in their homes under such circumstances? Would this not lead directly to a massive outflux of Jews from Jerusalem and a demographic crisis? This is precisely what happened in 1949 when Jordanian soldiers sniped at neighborhoods like Meah Shearim and Mamila from the Old City - 25,000 Jews fled the city.

Perhaps it sounds incredible: Could Jewish neighborhoods in modern-day Jerusalem actually turn into war-torn border zones, under fire of rocket-launching and light weapons-toting terrorists like those who silenced Sderot and Kiryat Shmona for weeks at a time?! The short answer is: Yes, it can – and it has happened very recently. Remember Gilo? Within a two-year period during the Oslo War, 400+ shooting and other attacks were unleashed on this quiet neighborhood by our enemies in the Bethlehem suburb of Beit Jalla. Only after the wounding of dozens, the beginning of voluntary evacuation, the provision of concrete barriers and bullet-proof glass, and the abating of the Oslo War did the danger pass.

Very significantly, as Jerusalem expert and author (and Keep Jerusalem Advisory Board member) Nadav Shragai notes, the Jewish neighborhood of N'vei Yaakov – situated even closer to Arab areas than Gilo is to Beit Jalla – did not come under such fire. Why is this? Shragai explains that the difference is simply "the Israeli presence, albeit under various restrictions, in Shuafat [near N'vei Yaakov] - in contrast to the lack of an Israeli presence in Beit Jalla. Clearly Israel’s control of the Arab neighborhoods of Jerusalem is essential for security and intelligence purposes."

Arab attempts to manufacture home-made mortar shells and Kassam rockets with which to target Jerusalem are ongoing; it is common knowledge that only the presence of the IDF and the Shabak (General Security Service) contains them.

This boomerang effect is true for demographics as well. For when the security wall/fence was erected in certain areas around Jerusalem, many of the Arabs who found themselves on the "other" side simply moved back "inside." The reason: they feared losing their precious "Jerusalem residents" status. They were in their legal rights to do so.

However, the danger is greater than meets the eye – for they don't only move to Arab neighborhoods, but have now also begun moving into Jewish neighborhoods ( like French Hill and Pisgat Zeev). It is patently clear that the attempt to push Arabs out of Jerusalem by means of fences or new borders will mean that many of them will simply come further in. And if there are no longer Arab neighborhoods to move into - they will move into Jewish ones.

In short: To withdraw from Arab neighborhoods would decrease neither the terror nor the demographic threats in Jerusalem; it would enhance both.
We need a long term plan, implemented by the government, to both combat the "Jerusalem intifada" and ensure the development of Jerusalem, united under exclusive Israeli sovereignty.