Posted on 06/04/2007 4:53:40 AM PDT by Esther Ruth
East Jerusalem to UN: We want independence
Group uniting 130 Palestinian civil institutions to send letter to UN announcing East Jerusalem's disengagement from rest of city, detail plans to found independent municipality. Initiative leader: 'We expect UN to recognize us, send observers to help us realize this step'
Roee Nahmias
A group of East Jerusalem Palestinians has announced its intention to declare before the UN that they are formally "disengaging" from West Jerusalem and establishing an independent municipality to oversee internal affairs in their section of the city.
The initiative, whether conceived as a gimmick or a genuine move, is led by an association in Jerusalem linking together over 130 Palestinian civil institutions.
The group's leadership has said that its first move will be to send a letter to UN Secretary General Ban ki-Moon, requesting the UN realize its own decisions regarding East Jerusalem. Representatives on behalf of the umbrella group are scheduled to make their way to the UN office in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah and deliver the letter in person.
"All UN resolutions since 1948 are based on the fact that Jerusalem is occupied territory, and that the occupation has no right to change its legal status, its geographical character or demographic makeup, and it is the right of its residents to take the necessary steps to organize and maintain their civilian lives," writes initiative leader, Hazem al-Gharabli.
"The Israeli government has ignored these resolutions over the years and worked to alter that which characterizes this city and expel its resident from Arab Jerusalem to gain control over their lands and property.
Disengaging from West Jerusalem? Children in the eastern half (Photo: Haim Zach)
"This without paying heed to the UN's resolutions which called for the cessation of these practices… now the Israeli authorities are carrying out a series of racist acts, the ultimate goal of which is to bring to a complete change of the situation in the city."
"Therefore – to stand up against this racism – the Jerusalem Association for Civil Institutions demands that the UN defend the residents of Arab Jerusalem and allow them to form a special municipality which will operate on their behalf in a manner that will serve the interests of its residents in accordance with UN resolutions. We demand of the UN to realize the resolutions pertaining to Jerusalem and not allow the Israeli authorities to continue ignoring them."
Elections for Palestinian municipality within 16 months
After submitting the letter to the UN, the leaders of the initiative plan to hold a press conference in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood to announce the formation of a committee designed to plan to new municipality.
"The mayor of Jerusalem has stated that he views us as a demographic threat which must be disposed of. He can not be of service to us in this situation," al-Gharabli told Ynet. "We expect the UN to recognize us and send observers to help us in realizing this step."
No connection to the PA. Fatah campaign in East Jerusalem (Photo: Gil Yohanan)
Publicity stunt or not, this will be one of the events marking the 40th anniversary of the Six Day War. According to al-Gharabli, the jurisdiction of the new municipality would follow the Green Line and it would serve all Arab residents of East Jerusalem. The new municipality would also still stake claim to Muslim assets in West Jerusalem.
"My grandfather's home is in the western part of Jerusalem and I have no intention of giving up on it. The Israeli people can live in their capital in West Jerusalem – and we in the eastern part. We're realistic in our vision," said al-Gharabli.
But Israel is obviously not going to recognize you. How do you intend to serve your constituents?
"Israel broke all the international laws. In any case, this is our right, we demand of the international community to come aid us in managing our own affairs. We already have clerks, garbage bags and everything we need. We're ordinary citizens demanding justice. In any case, the declaration is part of a campaign we are leading under the banner of 'Life to Jerusalem.'
Who will be responsible for the preparation of the municipality?
"We haven't decided yet. First we'll declare it and then appoint it. In any case the members will be from East Jerusalem families. We will try to get our message across through peaceful means. Just like the Israelis live in peace, we deserve to live in peace too. The Israelis are our neighbors and they deserve life just like us."
Are you connected to the Palestinian Authority?
"Absolutely not. We have no ties to the PLO or to the Palestinian Authority, which does not support us. On the contrary – it opposes this step. We believe that both Israel and the Palestinian Authority discriminate against the residents of East Jerusalem."
And you expect an answer from the secretary general of the UN?
"Of course. And if he doesn't respond, we will intensify our actions and maybe even travel to the UN headquarters in New York and protest there. We demand that the Security Council carry out the resolutions it passed. Rafik Hariri (former prime minister of Lebanon) has only been dead since yesterday and they have already formed an international tribunal. While Jerusalem has been suffering under occupation for 40 years and no resolutions have been carried out.
Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/122652
18 Sivan 5767, June 4, ‘07
Published: 06/04/07, 1:43 PM
Arabs Plan ‘Disengagement’ From Jerusalem
by Hana Levi Julian
(IsraelNN.com) A group of Arab-Israeli citizens in eastern Jerusalem announced plans on Sunday to establish their own city council in what they say will be a formal “disengagement” from the western half of the capital.
The group has also said it will turn to the United Nations on Monday and ask it to officially recognize the so-called municipality. The group, called “The Jerusalem Association for Civil Institutions,” says it has connections to at least 130 Arab institutions in the eastern part of Jerusalem.
Group leader Hazam al-Ghrabli, claimed in a letter to U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon that the U.N. recognizes Arab neighborhoods in Jerusalem as “occupied territory.”
“All U.N. resolutions since 1948 are based on the fact that Jerusalem is occupied territory, and that the occupation has no right to change its legal status, its geographical character or demographic makeup,” read the letter.
“It is the right of its residents to take the necessary steps to organize and maintain their civilian lives,” claimed al-Ghrabli. He accused the government of working to “expel its residents from Arab Jerusalem to gain control over their lands and property.”
Mr. al-Ghrabli insisted that the U.N. must recognize the new attempt at Arab self-rule within the city, saying “We expect the U.N. to recognize us and send observers to help us in realizing this step.”
Mr. al-Ghrabli also denied that he or other members of the group had any connection to the Palestinian Authority, saying that neither the PA nor the PLO supported the group. “We believe that both Israel and the Palestinian Authority discriminate against the residents of [East] Jerusalem.”
ping.
High Volume. Articles on Israel can also be found by clicking on the Topic or Keyword Israel. or WOT [War on Terror]
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“Group uniting 130 Palestinian civil institutions to send letter to UN announcing East Jerusalem’s disengagement from rest of city, detail plans to found independent municipality. Initiative leader: ‘We expect UN to recognize us, send observers to help us realize this step’”
OK! Well I am sick and tired of the US welfare state and it’s oppressive nature. I’m going to withdraw my 1/4 acre from the City of Phoenix and form an independent municipality. The UN can send some observers to help. I expect that US taxpayer dollars will be used to put them up at a hotel, since I don’t have any room for them.
I can think of at least one permanent member of the UN security Council which will just love this ploy...
But looking at the bright side... in my area of California, we have been gerrymandered into impotence. I am in both Boxer's and Feinstein's districts --- and as far away as Morroco is to Holland --- talk about totalitarianism and lack of self-government!
Does someone have the wording of this petition to the U.N.?
It's worth a shot!
Bears repeating.
Simple. Expel the Arabs to [muslim] Palestine [Jordan].
I wonder why the hundreds of thousand of jews don't petition the UN for similar justice about their property, homes, businesses and art work while living in Iraq, Iran, Syria, and Egypt for generations?
Oh yeah. I forgot.
They were all deported, most with less than 24 hours' notice between 1925 and 1965...
... never mind!...
"International laws" are as real as Big Foot, the Loch Ness Monster, Godzilla and "palestine".
Demand help in "managing your own affairs"? If you can't manage your own affairs, how can you "demand" anything?
Just sayin'...
A long time ago, I was enjoying some great "speed" and had a dream that God made me his messenger, and sent me on a magic flying rabbit to a place in west-central Arabia, from where I was taken to heaven.
Will someone please explain how I can formally make my claim to Mecca and the surrounding 3,000,000 square miles?
To which office of the UN should I send my demand?
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