Jerusalem mayor says all citizens have right to live where they want
Har Homa, a large Jews only-settlement in southern East Jerusalem.
British PM slams Israel: ‘Situation in East Jerusalem is genuinely shocking’
David Cameron criticizes Israeli construction beyond the Green Line and the ‘effective encirclement of East Jerusalem, occupied East Jerusalem.’
Ynetnews
February 25, 2016
British Prime Minister David Cameron slammed Israeli construction in East Jerusalem on Wednesday evening, saying the situation in the capital was “genuinely shocking.”
Cameron was responding to a question about the Palestinian plight from Labour MP Imran Hussain in the House of Commons.
“I am well known for being a strong friend of Israel, but I have to say the first time I visited Jerusalem and had a proper tour around that wonderful city and saw what had happened with the effective encirclement of East Jerusalem, occupied East Jerusalem, it is genuinely shocking,” the British prime minister said.
He criticized the Israeli government’s policies, saying “we do not support illegal settlements, we do not support what is happening in East Jerusalem and it’s very important that this capital city is maintained in the way that it was in the past.”
Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat. He recently advised Israeli Jews to carry firearms at all times.
Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat rejected Cameron’s comments, saying Cameron was wrong in his assessment because he is unfamiliar with the reality and facts on the ground.
Barkat sardonically wondered what construction Cameron finds so shocking: “Is it the newest and most advanced schools that we are building there? Is it the new roads that we are paving there? The childcare or the recreational centres? Where exactly does the Palestinian Authority invest in this way?”
He went on to cite international polls which he claimed indicate that Arab residents of the city prefer a united Jerusalem and highlighted the contrast between the lives of Arabs in Jerusalem with those in surrounding Arab countries.
“The situation of the residents of the city is significantly better than those in the countries which surround us and, needless to say, than the situation during the British Mandate in Israel,” Barkat charged.
He argued that all citizens in Jerusalem as in London have the right to live where they choose, irrespective of religion, race, or gender.
Nevertheless, Barkat invited Cameron, who he said was a “true friend of Israel,” to join him for a personal tour of the city. “I invite him to come and see how we have minimized the social gaps in eastern Jerusalem and I invite him to promote connections, developments, and local cooperation together with us instead of building walls and conflicts in the heart of Jerusalem.”
Cameron’s comments came almost at the same time as US Secretary of State John Kerry, who said Israeli settlement construction was not helping ease the tensions between the two warring sides.
“I think that I know we need to see measures taken on both sides to indicate a readiness and willingness to try to proceed forward and reduce the violence,” Kerry said, when asked about heightened violence.
US President Barack Obama also addressed the situation in the region during a meeting with Jordanian King Abdullah II.
“The situation in Israel and the West Bank, the increasing tensions that exist between Israelis and Palestinians there — His majesty has been a critical component of reducing some of the immediate sources of tension around the Temple Mount and visits there, but we continue to agree that it’s important for us to provide both sides a sense of possibility and hope and not simply despair,” the American president said.
TPS contributed to this story.
Beitar Illit, Jews-only settlement to the south of E. Jerusalem.
Barkat questions Cameron’s understanding of facts on ground in east Jerusalem
‘As in London, the idea that a resident would be denied the right to live in a certain neighbourhood based on their religion is preposterous,’ says mayor.
In response to British Prime Minister David Cameron’s criticism, Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat issued an incredulous statement on Thursday questioning the prime minister’s knowledge of facts on the ground in east Jerusalem.
Cameron on Wednesday blasted Israeli settlement construction in east Jerusalem as “genuinely shocking” and called for the reversal of further building plans, according to British media.
While Cameron underlined that he was a staunch ally of Israel’s, he noted that the UK does not support what he called “illegal settlements.”
“I am well known for being a strong friend of Israel, but I have to say the first time I visited Jerusalem and had a proper tour around that wonderful city and saw what has happened with the effective encirclement of east Jerusalem, occupied east Jerusalem, it is genuinely shocking,” the UK’s Independent quoted him as saying to parliament members in the House of Commons.
“Britain is a good and important friend of Israel and Jerusalem, but Prime Minister Cameron’s statement was incorrect, based on a lack of awareness of the advancements we are making in the city,” said Barkat.
“What construction is he ‘shocked’ by in east Jerusalem? By the newest, most advanced schools we are building to educate the youth? By the new roads we are paving for the residents? By the childcare and community centers we are establishing for the benefit of the families?”
Moreover, Barkat took the Palestinian Authority and surrounding Muslim countries to task for not meaningfully aiding their own people, while the Israeli government has provided a far higher standard of living for Arab residents.
“And I ask: What has the Palestinian Authority done to invest in these areas in the West Bank and Gaza?” he said.
“What have our neighbours – in Syria, in Iraq – done for their residents? The quality of life for east Jerusalem residents is constantly progressing and is far superior to the quality of life for residents in any of our neighbouring countries.”
The Jews-only settlement of Kfar Adumim north of East Jerusalem
The mayor went on to ask Cameron to support the current united model of Jerusalem, which he claimed the majority of Arab residents of the city have repeatedly indicated is their preference in the “most recent independent, international surveys.”
He added that there is no distinction between Jerusalem’s democratic model of government and London’s, and to assume otherwise is “preposterous.”
“Just as in London, Jerusalemites are free to choose to live wherever they wish; just as in London, any form of discrimination based on religion, race or sex is prohibited by law,” Barkat said.
“As would be the case in London, the idea that a resident would be denied the right to live in a certain neighbourhood based on their religion is preposterous.”
Taking a more conciliatory tone, Barkat concluded by inviting Cameron to visit the capital to judge the situation with his own eyes.
“I personally invite Prime Minister Cameron, a true friend of Israel, to visit and see for himself our commitment to our Arab residents in east Jerusalem and the tremendous advancement we have made in bridging gaps across the city,” he said.
“I invite Prime Minister Cameron to work with us to advance the development of the city of Jerusalem, rather than work to build walls and sharpen divisions in the heart of Jerusalem.”
Map of Jewish settlements in and around East Jerusalem.
Britain’s Cameron Calls Israeli Settlement Construction in East Jerusalem ‘Genuinely Shocking’
Speaking in response to a question in British parliament, Cameron says he is known as a friend of Israel but he condemns what he calls Israel’s ‘effective encirclement of East Jerusalem.’
By Barak Ravid, Haaretz
February 24, 2016
A few days after the British government barred public institutions from boycotting Israel, British Prime Minister David Cameron severely criticized the Netanyahu government’s policy and said that construction in East Jerusalem settlements is “genuinely shocking.”
The British prime minister was speaking during a parliamentary question period in response to a query from opposition Labour MP Imran Hussain, who asked: “Does the prime minister agree with me that illegal settlements and constructions are a major roadblock that hinder peaceful negotiations?”
After Hussain described a visit he made to a Palestinian family in the Old City of Jerusalem, whom he claimed was fighting eviction by Jewish settlers, Hussain also asked what the British government was doing “to help prevent the infringement into Palestinian lives and land.”
Cameron replied: “I am well-known as being a strong friend of Israel, but I have to say the first time I visited Jerusalem and had a proper tour around that wonderful city and saw what has happened with the effective encirclement of East Jerusalem – occupied East Jerusalem – it is genuinely shocking.”
Construction work in the Pisgat Ze’ev settlement in East Jerusalem, as seen from the Anata neighbourhood, August 29, 2012. Pisgat Ze’ev is one of Israel’s ‘ring neighbourhoods,’ separating Palestinian East Jerusalem from the rest of the West Bank. Photo by JC/Activestills.org.
He added: “What this government has consistently done and gone on doing is saying yes, we are supporters of Israel, but we do not support illegal settlements, we do not support what is happening in East Jerusalem and it’s very important that this capital city is maintained in the way that it was in the past.”
Cameron’s remarks were met with surprise in Jerusalem. Senior Israeli officials noted that his criticism may have been meant to balance his government’s recent decision against boycotts of Israel.
According to the guidelines, any boycott decision by a public body in the U.K. must be in line with the foreign policy of the British government.
The new, mandatory instructions, which forbid local boycotts in procurement and the issuing or awarding of tenders, apply to all countries belonging to the World Trade Organization, including Israel.
They were issued last Wednesday, to all bodies and organizations in Britain that sign agreements, publish tenders or make purchases using public funds. They apply primarily to government offices and agencies, local councils and other public bodies.
“Public procurement should never be used as a tool to boycott tenders from suppliers based in other countries, except where formal legal sanctions, embargoes and restrictions have been put in place by the UK Government,” according to the new guidelines.
“There are wider national and international consequences from imposing such local level boycotts. They can hinder Britain’s export trade, and harm foreign relations to the detriment of Britain’s economic and international security.”
The government stressed in a statement that the guidance “complements” the guidance issued to businesspeople about 18 months ago, in which it cautioned against doing business with settlements in the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Golan Heights or the purchase of real estate in settlements, which, it said, could expose them to legal claims or financial damage.