Bloodshed inevitable in Jerusalem says minister
Palestine-Israel, Local, 11/24/1997

For Palestinians living in the Old City of Jerusalem, the recent Jewish settlement thrust is seen as a new provocative measure that is very likely to stir clashes between Arabs and Jews. "We have already learned the bad effects of Jewish settlement in the heart of an Arab neighborhood like in Hebron and we do not want to have a second Hebron here," said Mohammed, a shop owner whose premises is only three minutes walk from last week's shooting incident in which one Jewish settler was killed and another wounded.

Mohammed said that since the shooting, Israeli policemen have intensified their presence and that "life has become intolerable." He noted that in every similar attack in the past, Jewish settlers had the chance to claim new pretexts to take over Arab houses in Jerusalem and voiced his bitter condemnation of some of the Arab landlords who "did not fight wholeheartedly" to prevent the settlers from going into their homes.

"Bloodshed might become inevitable if Israel implements its plans to expand Jewish settlement in the Old City of Jerusalem," warned the Palestinian minister in charge of the Jerusalem portfolio, Faisal Husseini. Husseini said the Palestinian cabinet is closely following with concern the flow of latest statements made by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about what he called "Israel's right to settle in all of Jerusalem." Husseini expressed hope that US President Bill Clinton would ³not suffice with talk alone and would begin to apply sanctions on Israel that would lead it to change its policies in everything related to the implementation of the peace agreements.²

During a visit to the site of the shooting, Netanyahu announced on Sunday that Jewish presence in the Old City of Jerusalem is eternal and pledged full support to the Jewish settlers, foremost of whom the Ateiret Cohanim organization which has been active in taking over Arab houses in the city. Netanyahu told Ateret Cohanim members: ³Each one of you is a stake in Jerusalem, a stake which encompasses the entire dream of this nation.²

Netanyahu was accompanied by West Jerusalem Mayor Ehud Olmert who himself is a driving force behind Jewish settlement in the city. Olmert said Netanyahu¹s presence at the Jewish settlement in the city, known as a Jewish seminary school, is an ³important declaration which testifies again that Jewish settlement in the Muslim Quarter is a natural, self-apparent thing.² Olmert added that Netanyahu's declaration "points to the fact that this time the government of Israel is openly placing itself behind the expansion of the Jewish settlement in the Old City and is not hiding behind the settlers as it did in Ras Al Amoud.² Netanyahu had also called on his ministers not to stop walking in the alleys of the Old City in Jerusalem.

Encouraged by the government approach and its reaction to the shooting incident, members of the Ateiret Cohanim organization announced their intention to begin renovation work on 18 homes for Jewish families in the Muslim Quarter. The director-general of the organization, Matti Dan, said the organization decided to name the site of the 18 houses Beit Gavriel, after Gavriel Hisrschberg, the settler who was shot dead last week. He added: ³Just like we found Gabi dead, we found 18 places which we decided to begin renovating so that within a year we can bring in 18 families to live there."

Matti Dan said dozens of students have entered one of the houses owned by the organization and cleaned it up. Police forces came to the site and security officials expressed concern that the entry of families to the sites would result in clashes.

Previous Stories:
  New Palestinian census causes clash over Jerusalum   (11/20/1997)
  Shuhada street open for Palestinian vehicles   (10/29/1997)
  New settlement plans near Jerusalem on eve of peace talks in US   (9/29/1997)

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