The elections in Israel are over, and frantic efforts are beginning in earnest to form a new government. As we write this, we have no clue as to who will win and what the next Knesset will look like. All the better: The subject we wish to address is far above and beyond run-of-the-mill politics. It the future of Jerusalem, the City of David, Beauty of the World, the Eternal Capital of the Jewish people.
If the election campaign was a time to stand strongly for what we believe in, this is all the more so when the elections are behind us. As the various political parties negotiate for a position in the governing coalition, they must always keep in mind: “What do we really stand for? What will we never compromise in our headstrong rush to ensure a position of influence and stature in the new government?”
The answer for most parties, we note with great anguish, is not Jerusalem. Yes, they pay lip service to the holy city, but underneath, there is despair, pessimism, and a willingness to give in. We speak, therefore, both to those who would allow transient pressures to govern their approach towards our sacred assets, and especially towards those would not, and hope that our words are heard.
In a nutshell: It is incumbent upon all Zionist parties to demonstrate clearly their belief that Yerushalayim, whole and united under Israeli sovereignty, is an absolute imperative for the Jewish people. Each party must have a practical plan, with appropriate detail, to ensure that this sublime goal is attained.
The plan must be two-pronged: It must first present our claims to Jerusalem and their justification from various angles – historic, religious, demographics, legal, security, and more. Second, it must specify deliverable actions and approaches to ensure that Jerusalem remains ours, with an emphasis on housing construction, transportation, tourism, and government.
We have addressed the first of the above elements numerous times in this column. In brief, these points must be repeatedly emphasized: Jerusalem’s historical and religious connections with the Jewish people… The lack of Muslim historical bonds with the city, even in the PLO’s original covenant of 1964 which does not mention Jerusalem… Its overwhelming Jewish majority for nearly 150 years… The international San Remo resolutions giving us “title” to the holy city under international law… The demographic and security dangers of placing Jerusalem neighborhoods under PA control (or worse)… etc.
In terms of the second goal, we note with sorrow that neither the city fathers nor Israel’s national leaders have formulated a comprehensive policy to direct Jerusalem trends in housing, demographics, public relations, tourism, and much more, toward the objective.
KeepJerusalem’s research has shown that there does not exist an official 10- or 20-Year Policy Plan geared toward maintaining, strengthening, and perpetuating the current united status of Jerusalem. Various experts we have consulted sadly concur with this conclusion. At the same time, left-wing pro-Palestinian organizations have stepped in to fill the vacuum with efforts to prepare such plans, or portions thereof. Their papers receive much attention among world governments, and even from Israeli government bodies and think tanks.
We must step up to the plate and fill the void by formulating the outline and main points of an appropriate plan. In this article, we concentrate on concrete steps in the following areas: law enforcement and security; tourism; housing construction; education; economic development; governance of the holy sites; public relations; neighborhood development; a master transportation program; and more.
A committee of experts must be assembled to work on these issues to formalize and develop practical ideas for the above – something that KeepJerusalem has been working on and sees as a critical objective. Guidelines and principles to appear in a truly pro-Jerusalem plan would include: