Anyone coming to Jerusalem these days cannot help but notice the mayoral election campaign going on in the city. The buses carry images of the candidates alongside promises ranging from affordable housing to religious freedom — and, of course, the vow never to divide Jerusalem.
This is all well and good, except that Jerusalem was never really united — and it is doubtful that it can ever be truly united — and the next mayor is unlikely to be of the caliber this difficult city deserves.
Jerusalem is in demographic flux. In 1967, there were some 200,000 Jews and 68,000 Arabs living in the city — or 74% Jewish to 26% Arab. In 2005, the numbers were 475,000 Jews and 245,000 Arabs — 66% to 34%. Since the Arab birth rate is higher than the Jewish one, it is predicted that by 2020 the city will be 61% Jewish and 39% Arab. Indeed, among children age 14 and younger, there are already more Arabs than Jews in the city.
Arab Jerusalemites are overwhelmingly concentrated in East Jerusalem, which Israel annexed after the 1967 Six-Day War. Their average standard of living is much lower than that of the city’s Jews. As a general rule, Jerusalem’s Arab residents have chosen not to participate in Israeli and municipal elections, and they often feel disenfranchised and alienated.
Within the city’s Jewish population, the number of ultra-Orthodox Jews is rising. Jerusalem neighborhoods that were once predominantly secular or religiously mixed have been taken over by the ultra-Orthodox.
The middle class, meanwhile, is leaving Jerusalem. In Tel Aviv, real estate agents already joke about the ex-Jerusalemites, who desperately search the coastal plain for the breathtaking views and great weather they enjoyed in the city they have left forever.
A look at the education system gives a clear idea of what the future holds for the city. While there are 120,000 Jewish pupils in the state school system — including both general and religious Zionist schools — and 85,000 in the ultra-Orthodox schools, there are only 33,000 children in state kindergartens and elementary schools, compared to 59,000 in the ultra-Orthodox ones.
Jerusalem, already one of Israel’s poorest cities, is becoming even poorer. The average monthly income in Jerusalem in 2004 was only 76% of the national average and less than 60% of the average for Tel Aviv. One out of every three families in Jerusalem lives under the poverty line. When it comes to children, the situation is much worse: 56% of Jerusalem’s children live in families that are considered poor.
Unfortunately, things may get worse before they get better. The two populations that are growing — Arabs and ultra-Orthodox Jews — are not participating in the labor force in the same numbers as other Jerusalemites. In other words, as these demographic trends continue, there will be fewer people to work, pay taxes and carry the burden of this difficult city on their shoulders.
As if all this weren’t enough, there is also the feuding over Jerusalem’s holy sites. Since 1967, Israel has managed to maintain the religious status quo over the holy places with great sensitivity, but Jerusalem’s city government always has the potential to rock the boat — and even to spark a religious war.
In light of all these problems, one would expect that candidates seeking a position as challenging as mayor of Jerusalem would be outstanding leaders, like the city’s late mayor Teddy Kollek. He was broad-minded, politically savvy, charismatic enough to boost the morale of Jerusalemites, persuasive enough to steer funds from the government and the Jewish people to the city and, last but not least, a good manager.
Alas, today’s batch of candidates is a far cry from Teddy Kollek.
Leading the pack is Nir Barkat, a successful high-tech entrepreneur. Although he has no experience running any big operation, many Jerusalemites seem willing to entrust the city to his hands for the simple reason that he isn’t ultra-Orthodox. The problem with Barkat is that he has positioned himself at the far right end of the political spectrum: Recently, he announced that once elected he would build affordable housing for students in the middle of an Arab neighborhood in East Jerusalem — a sure recipe for trouble.
Immediately behind Barkat in the polls is Meir Porush, an old-time ultra-Orthodox politician. Unlike Barkat, Porush has a long record in city politics, which includes, inter alia, running, together with his father, the Bikur Cholim hospital, and bringing this respected institution to the brink of bankruptcy. If the present mayor, also an ultra-Orthodox Jew, is soft-spoken and occasionally tries to reassure secular Jerusalemites, Porush makes little secret of his desire to privilege the interests of the ultra-Orthodox population.
Next comes Russian-born tycoon Arkadi Gaydamak, who doesn’t speak Hebrew very well but seems to know how to buy friends and influence people. He purchased the city’s popular Beitar Jerusalem soccer team in 2005, a smart move in advance of a mayoral run. If Italy’s Silvio Berlusconi managed to become prime minister thanks, in part, to the success of his soccer team, why can’t Gaydamak use sports to climb Israel’s political letter? Alas, even as he faces Jerusalem’s voters, he is facing charges of illegal arms trading in France.
The field is rounded out by Dan Biron of the pro-marijuana Green Leaf Party. His mayoral hopes, though, are little more than a pipe dream.
This is all very sad. While the rhetoric touting a “united Jerusalem” is still running high, in reality Israelis seem to have given up on the city. Jerusalem, not only the capital of Israel but the capital of the Jewish world, deserves a better fate.
Uri Dromi served as a spokesman for prime ministers Yitzhak Rabin and Shimon Peres. He lives in Jerusalem.
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Always the discussion of Jerusalem includes statistics. How many of this group, and how many of that group live in Jerusalem, etc. Jerusalem is the home of those who wish to live here, and there really is no point analyzing the social or ideological background of its inhabitants. It is a wonderful city - incredibly interesting, beautiful and inspiring. Any balanced discussion of Jerusalem should always include a view of her amazing character. Uri Dromi makes mention of rhetoric that he places in quotation marks (“united Jerusalem”), and he adds a bit more rhetoric without quotation marks (the capital of the Jewish world). There is a much more important rhetoric that is no longer expressed - and this is the rhetoric that should be proclaimed in the clearest voice, because it alone holds the key to real change. For decades we no longer hear a call to the committed Jewish public to come and live here, to come and shape the destiny of this land and this city of Jerusalem.
Uri Dromi is aprt of the political hacks who make their business making concessions to Arabs and is closely identified with the failed Oslo process. I hope that Mr Dromi has fortified his roof to deal with Qassams fired from the Temple Mount and E Jerusalem. The left has still not answered the question of dealing with rocket fire emanating from Arab areas in Jerusalem. This is probably because the "elite" have second homes outside of Israel, like Olmert's sons. The lfts plan is to sell Israel to the Arabs, flee when the going gets tough, and let the Arabs deal with the rest of the Israelis the way they dealt with Jews in Hebron in 1929. Why cant Israel have leaders of the stature of even a Bashar Assad?
The bottom line is Israel wants united Jerusalem for all eternity as a symbol but no one is really interested as a real place, or to live there. If they do, they can not afford it, because all of West Jerusalem is being bought by foreign Jews who spend a few weeks in the city each year during Jewish holidays. As in New York, luxury housing developments are being built which are designed for wealthy foreign investors or part time residence with large sums of capital.
Criticism is a tool for improving ourselves and our strategic situation. It is, all in all, a positive phenomenon. However, many critics get overwhelmed by their own criticism, and then lose touch with reality. So, Herbert Kaine - instead of simply explaining where he believes the left misunderstands our situation - seems to believe that the left of Israel is a type of treason, an group of people who plan to abandon Israel after ruining her. Many people in Israel would like to be rid of some or most or all of the territory captured in 1967. Their logic is that this will serve the best interests of our people in the long run. Now, one may agree or disagree with such logic, and we would find it an interesting debate. But, seeing it as an evil plot is obviously detached from all reality. Historically, the leftist (socialist) movements were a major factor in the successful struggle for independence. Even more ironic is the fact that the left is no longer in power in Israel. Sharon, Olmert and now Livni all came to the new Qadima Party from the Likud and the traditional Israeli right wing. Finally, it is puzzling that the ownership of property outside of Israel is a topic that is on the mind of Herbert Kaine. Even if it's true - so what? There are millions of Jewish house-owners in this world who have never even set foot in the Land of Israel. It never even occurred to them to visit here, let alone actually to contribute to the success of this dramatic story. Why would you have a problem with one who actually lives here in this society? And finally, ARTH is getting carried away with his criticism as well. "No one is really interested (in Jerusalem) as a real place... all of West Jerusalem is being bought by foreign Jews..." There is room for criticism about the city's problem, including the loss of population to Modi'in or Mevasseret (or the phenomenon of empty houses owned by Diaspora Jews), but let's not lose touch with reality. Jerusalem is the home of hundreds of thousands of Jews, and many ordinary people move to Jerusalem all the time. Perhaps for ARTH it is merely a symbol, but for many of us Jerusalem is the very reality of life.
Mr Kaine - You should take notice of how you phrase your positions. The statement that "you have abandoned the residents of Gush Katif..." is also quite revealing. It's not "we have abandoned", the pronoun "we" befitting an Israeli who feels solidarity with this society and responsibility for it; rather, it's "you", a pronoun that is meant to be divisive (defining some of our society as "the other"). Ironically, that is your very incorrect accusation against the Israeli left (that the left supposedly has no solidarity). You simply do not understand the nature of the political debate in Israel. One person may want to keep the territories, while another wants to be rid of them. In both cases, one feels that his view ultimately serves the best interest of the Jewish people. Moreover, there are people who leave the country - both from the left and from the right. But most of us - left and right, religious and secular - have deep attachment to this soil and to this ENTIRE society. Again, it is quite strange that you have such harsh words for a "leftist" who by your mistaken evaluation will leave the country. Many Jews prefer to live in the Diaspora. So what? But this particular leftist Jew (supposedly going to live elsewhere) has guarded the borders of Israel, laid in ambush on cold wintery nights, risked his life so that you can sleep tight. How dare you express anger at such a person, accusing him of lost solidarity? There are so many Jews who have never even set foot in Israel, and certainly would never have risked themselves for others. Maybe you should focus your frustration on those who don't share any burdens - not on those who do. Put things in the right proportion, and learn to accept other political views as legitimate mainstream Israel.
Perhaps Jews are RELUCTANT to set down permanent roots, and move to Jerusalem. After all, Presidents Bush and Clinton (and their State Departments) have not proven to be absolute allies---nor have the liberal Jews---with their ridiculous suicidal beliefs that the arab enemy should be given most of our nation as a "homeland" for the fictional "palestinian people." There is no such thing as a "palestinian people." It is a fictional creation of the PLO, USSR and East German propagandists---as another means of dividing and destroying Israel (DON'T BELIEVE ME---Google the topic) With such uncertainty, and an often hostile-toward Jews IDF, why should Jews flock to Jerusalem? Look what happened to the Jews of Gaza or Hebron, or wherever Jews were given this land---IN PERPETUITY BY G-D. Can Jews trust secular and often corrupt Israeli leaders? Does Livni value her ham sandwich more than her people and their homeland? For myself, I would LOVE to live in Israel---especially Jerusalem---but with an unwillingness of the Jewish nation (and JNF, etc) to claim and defend what is ours----how certain is the future of Israel? The only thing certain is the ABSOLUTE desire of muslims to kill or enslave all Jews and eliminate Israel. When, if ever, do the secular and liberal Jews wake up???
Are you saying, Benjamin Berman, that you are afraid to live in Jerusalem? Instead of being so angry, perhaps you should be a bit more humble - and show some respect for those "secular" and "liberal" Jews who actually live here and carry the burdens. Mrs Livni, whom you so much belittle, was an officer in the IDF and later was an agent in the Mossad. She raised her family on this soil. She didn't spend a lifetime giving unrealistic and cowardly advice from afar.
I read that a lawsuit has been filed in the U.S. re the birthcertificate of a child born there. Problem, the birth certificate says Jerusalem, and adding Israel is not allowed, as the city belongs to three religions. So, questions, questions. Is a child born there a permanent dp? Stateless (no citizenship), what is the status of real estate in Jerusalem? Is this real estate in ISRAEL? Read on the israelnn.com website. Please investigate and comment. It is important. Dubious, or even dual citizenship, may cause lots of difficulties in the future (example U.S. citizens move to Israel and become Israelis, there is a period of no citizenship and a child born in Jerusalem may have this status become permanent).. I think Israel needs a solution NOW on the status of Jerusalem.
The American government does not recognize Jerusalem (east or west) as a city in Israel as long as the conflict continues. Therefore, when issuing passports to US citizens born in Jerusalem, the place of birth on the American document is "Jerusalem", not "Jerusalem, Israel". However, this does not mean that the child is "stateless" or a permanent DP (obviously he has American citizenship since he's being issued a passport). Most likely, this child has Israeli citizenship (I'm assuming that this is the child of 'olim who have chosen to live in Israel). The fact that the US government doesn't recognize Jerusalem as an Israeli city does not mean that it is not an Israeli city, and therefore its residents are stateless. Their civil status is determined by Israeli law, obviously. Even the American government recognizes that those born in Jerusalem - like those born in Tel-Aviv or Yeruham - are Israeli citizens.
For Y. Pennink - It is not true that a U.S. citizen becoming an Israeli citizen goes through "a period of no citizenship". One does not lose American citizenship, and upon receiving Israeli citizenship, the immigrant from the U.S. will hold two passports. Moreover, a child born in Jerusalem (or anywhere else in the Land of Israel), whose parents have arrived in Israel on an immigrant's visa, is simply an Israeli citizen. It's not clear why you would think that real estate in Jerusalem is an issue just because the U.S. does not recognize Jerusalem as an Israeli city. People own and sell property throughout the world, and the policy of the State Department in Washington is simply not a factor. So, yes, real estate in Jerusalem is in Israel and subject to the laws of the Knesset. Obviously, the non-recognition of Jerusalem as an Israeli city or as the capital of the state is a result of the on-going political conflict. It is NOT because it belongs to "three religions". The status of the city is an issue of sovereignty; i.e. it is a political topic. Since there is a debate over the issue of sovereignty, foreign governments prefer not to anger the Arabs - and so they refrain from recognizing Israeli sovereignty until the conflict is resolved. Unofficially, the world recognizes the status quo, relating to Jerusalem as the capital city of Israel. This is the reason that all state visits to Israel - including the famous visit of Sadat in 1977 - take place in Jerusalem. Foreign presidents and prime ministers speak at the Knesset, have a solemn ceremony at Yad Va-Shem, visit the old city, etc. Your perception of reality in Jerusalem (and Israel) leave the impression that you have never been here. If so, you should really spend some time in the city.
So, Herbert Kaine - instead of simply explaining where he believes the left misunderstands our situation - seems to believe that the left of Israel is a type of treason, an group of people who plan to abandon Israel after ruining her....I believe this because this is what the evidence points me to. The Israeli left dreams of a return to Europe, and ignores that Europe didnt like Jews 70 years ago and still doesnt. My comment on ownership of homes outside of Israel is that the leftist elite has prepared for their departure from Israel, ie Olmert's sons Many people in Israel would like to be rid of some or most or all of the territory captured in 1967. Their logic is that this will serve the best interests of our people in the long run....I too would favor a 2 state solution if I thought it would bring peace. The Hamas response after the Gaza withdrawal woke me up from these fantasies. If the Israeli left were truly interested in the two state solution, they would have done an exemplary job in resettling the Gush Katif refugees. As it stands today, 81% still lack permanent homes. The abysmal record in resettling these people will make it difficult to convince us that Israel is capable of large scale withdrawal from Judea and Samaria. If Israel cant resettle 10,000 refugees, will resettling 300,000 be easier? The plan is simple. Abandon other Jews to their fate and make a profit at the same time. This is what the Israeli left is doing today. Yes, the left contributed to the building of Israel in 1950s. Similarly, the most talented American general during the Revolutionary War was named Benedict Arnold. Today, his name is a byword for treason
Your example of Benedict Arnold is really quite revealing. Your point of reference is taken from someone else's history, not from the narrative of the Jewish people in the Land of Israel. If you would have given an example from our story, then I might be convinced that you (Herbert Kaine) have two feet planted in the Land of Israel and that you have a clear (albeit mistaken) view of our society. However, since your symbolism comes from the American world and society, it would seem obvious that our symbolism (and society) is less familiar to you.
If you would have given an example from our story,...I have. You have abandoned the residents of Gush Katif. If you cant resettle 10,000 Jews, how can you resettle 300,000 from the West Bank. In the 1950s, a poorer Israel settled hundreds of thousands of Jews from the Arab world. Today, a considerably wealthier countrier cannot resettle 10,000 Jews. I am a resident of this country, and I miss the old Israel, where the elite didnt abandon the less fortunate. It is because the current Israeli government abandons its citizens ie Sderot that I assume the leftist elite will abandon us when the time and price is right. Uri Dromi wants to abandon Jerusalem, and he is not ashamed to say it
I agree with Herbert. We once had great secular leaders like David Ben Gurion, Golda Meir, and religious leaders like Menachem Begin. Today, Olmert, Sharon and Livni possess a small fraction of the leadership that a Bashar Assad or Hasan Nasrallah have
You simply do not understand the nature of the political debate in Israel. One person may want to keep the territories, while another wants to be rid of them. In both cases, one feels that his view ultimately serves the best interest of the Jewish people...This is the way it should be. Unfortunately, the media and judiciary is controlled by the left, and demonizes the right. If I really believed what Haaretz wrote, I would be in full agreement with Gilad Atzmon's statement that "burning a synagogue is a fully legitimate act" or Zeev Sternhells belief that killing settlers is fully legitimate. Ironically, that is your very incorrect accusation against the Israeli left (that the left supposedly has no solidarity...I didnt say the left doesnt have solidarity. It has solidarity with leftist movements in other countries. It doesnt have solidarity with the residents of Sderot, and the refugees from Gush Katif. You still havent answered why Israel has failed to resettle the refugees from Gush Katif. Im still waiting for your answer. But this particular leftist Jew (supposedly going to live elsewhere) has guarded the borders of Israel, laid in ambush on cold wintery nights, risked his life so that you can sleep tight. How dare you express anger at such a person, accusing him of lost solidarity?...I guess that I should feel grateful for Elhanan Tannenbaum, who probably served Israel well, then went to Europe to make a drug deal with Hezbollah, got kidnapped, and caused a lot of terrorists to be released. As they say in the financial world, past performance is no guarantee of future earnings. Uri Dromi is making a plea to abandon Jerusalem, just as you (or we) have abandoned the refugees from Gush Katif, the South Lebanese Army, Gilad Shalit, the soldiers in Josephs Tomb. Ever since 1993 and the Oslo agreements, WE have been in abandonment fever. have deep attachment to this soil and to this ENTIRE society...I am happy that you and others feel this way. I dont believe that Uri Dromi fits into this category. I believe he has made a career of abandonment