Ras Al Amoud and another explosion
Palestine, Analysis, 9/20/1997

American officials said that US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright was taken aback by the refusal of Isreali Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to honor Israel's commitments under the Oslo accords. Netanyahu told Albright that his government would collapse if he ordered a halt to the construction of settlements or agreed to a second troop re-deployment in the West Bank.

Indeed, Albright left the Middle East region with some options. The first is to continue pressing Arafat to crack down on the infrastructure of Hamas and Jihad the within the self-rule territories. The second is it unless the after issues by taking what she called "small steps, when large steps are needed."

Albright also suggested that Israel should desist from taking unilateral actions, which Palestinians "perceive" as provocative.

But, forty-eight hours after she left Jerusalem, another "unilateral action" occurred, whose political provocation may spark consequences akin to those that followed the opening of the western wall tunnel in Jerusalem a year ago.

15 Jewish settlers, protected by "dozens" of guards took over a two-story hours in Ras Al Amoud, a Palestinian neighborhood that lies on the outskirts of the old city in occupied East Jerusalem.

The settlers, who turned out the Palestinian families from their homes, claimed that they are renting the homes from the legal owner.

In the meantime, Irving Moskowitz, an American Jew says he bought the houses from the Palestinians. And Palestinians from Ras Al-Amoud who have claims on the houses say the sale to Moskowitz was fraudulent and has yet to be decided by an Israeli court.

What is not in dispute is that Ras Al-Amoud is an exclusively Palestinian community of 11,000 which in recent memory has never had a Jewish presence other than in the ancient Jewish cemetery that rests opposite the village on the Mount of Olives. So, it is this Palestinian reality that Moskowitz wants to change.

"As a Jew, I desire to see the mount of olives not only as a place for the dead but also for the living," he told an Israeli paper.

Netanyahu's response to the takeover was to feign ignorance and denounce it. Claiming no foreknowledge of the settlers' action, he said "What is happening in Ras Al-Amoud is not good for Jerusalem and not good for the state of Israel." Rather, decisions having to do with Jerusalem should be in accordance with a "government master plan" and not by "private initiative."

But there are growing doubts over the Ras Al-Amud issue. Some Israeli analysts said that Netanyahu knew of the settlers intentions last week but asked them to delay the takeover until Secretary of State Albright was out of the country, and he offered the settlers "a compromise solution," whereby they would vacate the two Palestinian homes in Ras Al-Amoud and be replaced by 10 Jewish seminary students who would renovate the buildings. Netanyahu would also recognize the settlers "right" to settle in the Palestinian neighborhood.

What does Netanyahu want of the Middle East region? A PLO-executive committee member said that whenever Jews settle in the heart of a PA neighborhood, there will be an explosion.

Previous Stories:
  Ras Al Amoud showdown: the other side of the conflict   (9/19/1997)
  Palestinians are angry - Eruption may take place after Friday's prayer   (9/18/1997)
  Netanyahu now convinced settlers should leave.   (9/18/1997)

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