Israel Matzav

61 MK's sign petition against dividing Jerusalem

Sixty-one members of Israel's 120-member Knesset have signed a petition against dividing the city of Jerusalem with the 'Palestinians.' That includes thirty members of the coalition, including thirteen of the twenty-nine members from the Kadima Achora party.

A majority [the print edition of the JPost said 61. CiJ] of Knesset members signed a petition this week calling for Jerusalem to remain undivided in a move that could tie the hands of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in his negotiations with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas ahead of the Annapolis summit.

The petition drive, initiated by Likud MK Yisrael Katz, attracted support from some 30 coalition MKs, including ministers Ya'acov Edri and Ze'ev Boim of Kadima and the two Pensioners Party ministers.

Transportation Minister Shaul Mofaz said he would sign soon. Thirteen Kadima MKs signed, including Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee chairman Tzahi Hanegbi. Every Pensioners MK signed.

The only Israel Beiteinu MKs who signed were David Rotem and Estherina Tartman and the only Labor MK who signed was MK Yoram Marciano.

Katz said the petition drive was intended to send a message to Olmert that he has no mandate to negotiate Jerusalem's future. In a further push to keep the future of Jerusalem on the agenda, the Likud faction will tour the walls of the Old City Tuesday and opposition leader Binyamin Netanyahu will brief the foreign press at a strategic site overlooking the city.

Unfortunately, the petition is meaningless. Olmert has said that he does not need Knesset approval to reach a 'declaration' with Abu Mazen. We already know from past experience that once concessions are put on the table to the 'Palestinians' they just become the starting point for the next round. Olmert must be stopped from making any kind of declaration with Abu Mazen - let along going to Annapolis. We must continue to try to cause the government to fall.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 12:23 AM