Yoffie urges moratorium on Jewish building in 'east' Jerusalem
Reform movement leader rabbi Eric Yoffie called on Thursday for a moratorium on Jewish building in 'east' Jerusalem. "The Union for Reform Judaism, like most American Jewish organizations, supports a united Jerusalem under Israeli sovereignty," the URJ president said. "This means that we believe housing units constructed in Jerusalem by Israel are not settlements and they are not illegal. But a great many things that are legal are not prudent or wise – and building in Arab sections of Jerusalem in the current political climate is one of those things."Sorry, but no. Temporary has a knack of being extended and becoming permanent. And there is no reason Israel should accept any restrictions on building in its capital city because President Obumbler threw a tantrum. That's absurd!
Yoffie recommended the moratorium as a means of easing tensions with the United States sparked last week when Israel announced a major building start in Jerusalem during a visit by U.S. Vice President Joe Biden aimed at showing U.S.-Israel unity. The announcement also led the Palestinian Authority to pull back from planned renewed peace talks.
"Surely no opportunity to move toward an enduring settlement must be squandered," he said. "I hope that the government of Israel will see the declaration of a temporary moratorium on building in East Jerusalem as a means of seizing the initiative, deepening her ties with America, rallying her allies around the world, and challenging the Palestinians and Arab world to come forward with confidence-building steps of their own."
posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 5:45 PM
3 Comments:
Carl - Hillary's transcript to AIPAC has already been posted and there's not a good deal of warmth to it - she insisted the status quo is not "sustainable" and Israel has a responsibility to create a Palestinian state - or else. And I think she mentioned Palestinian incitement only once in her address. Let's be clear about what Yoffie, the Obami and the Eurotrash really want: the Jews ethnically cleansed out of Jerusalem. Today, we heard the EU, home to the largest Jewish cemetery in the world, condemn Israel again for having the temerity to declare building in Jerusalem is like building in Tel Aviv. And the Obami of course agree with it.
Netanyahu will not find himself receiving a friendly reception in Washington and I might add its just a shame Housing Minister Ariel Attias felt compelled to postpone a neighborhood inauguration in Givat Zeev because it might embarrass the Americans. So this is what we have to come to today: the Israeli government afraid of asserting its sovereignty in its capital due to international condemnation.
I just wish there was better news and all this I fear, is just the calm before the storm.
Ha Rav HaGoanHaPosek Yoffie and his ilk showed their true colours during the Holocaust.
While there are a handful of true reform believers-think WOW- 99% are twice a year/bnai mitzvah Jews. In fact they are more likely to have an intermarried kid than visit Israel
Carl - more here on Hillary Clinton's address from AlBeeb - note that she says "new construction in East Jerusalem the mutual trust between the US and Israel" - she effectively read Netanyahu the riot act.
So if you know what she really said is that Israel can choose between Obama and Jerusalem but cannot have both. And this to a pro-Israel lobbying group. The US wants a freeze in East Jerusalem and she pointedly reiterated the US position that it does not accept the continued legitimacy of the settlements. So the US is prepared to accept ethnic cleansing of Jews from Yesha as part of the price of a future Palestinian state.
Hillary Clinton Warns Israel Faces "Difficult" Choices
Incidentally, no such demands are made of the Palestinians; they are made only of Israel. What is Netanyahu's answer going to be to what is in effect an ultimatum from the Obami? He's caught between the proverbial rock and hard place on America's foreign policy.
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