Israelis: Bibi knew about it but building in Jerusalem like building in Tel Aviv
The monthly 'war and peace index' from Tel Aviv University came out on Monday, and they asked a few questions about the latest dust-up between President Obama and Prime Minister Netanyahu. Most Israelis believe that Netanyahu knew the Ramat Shlomo announcement was coming. And while they also believe Israel should consult with the United States on these issues, the bottom line is that building in Jerusalem is like building in Tel Aviv. The poll found that 62% of Israelis do not believe Netanyahu's disavowal of knowledge, and 54% believe Israel must consider Washington's stance on the expansion of settlements, even due to "natural growth".Other than that, we're pretty evenly divided on just about everything, as usual.
However most of those asked by the survey supported the view that construction in east Jerusalem should be treated like construction in Tel Aviv, despite the harsh criticism launched at the government over the recent diplomatic dispute with the US.
Only a quarter of those polled believe the construction project should not have been approved, with 41% saying that only the timing was wrong. The number of people supportive of the construction in Ramat Shlomo neighborhood is twice that of its objectors.
posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 9:23 PM
2 Comments:
It was a decision by the Jerusalem city government. To ask the national government to monitor local projects is completely ridiculous. There was nothing offensive about the construction announcement. And the US would still have been offended even if Vice President Biden hadn't been in Israel that day.
Obama disagrees and the State Department says so clearly. The US and Israel are at odds on this and all Jews need to know this. See yesterday's State Dept. press briefing. SOME American Jews that voted for Obama might care.:
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/dpb/2010/03/138960.htm
QUESTION: And you don’t see him – you don’t see what he said last night, and not just in the comments that I quoted, but in others, as that Israel does not agree that Jerusalem is a final status issue?
MR. CROWLEY: Well, I think at one point the prime minister also added that he did not see a distinction necessarily between in Jerusalem and building in Tel Aviv. We – and we disagree with that. And that Jerusalem is a --
QUESTION: So is that the bottom line here?
MR. CROWLEY: -- is a final status issue. It’s a city of significant importance to multiple communities. The issues surrounding the future of Jerusalem as part of this process can only be resolved through direct negotiations, and the sooner we get there, the better.
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