by Nadav Shragai
An almost unbelievable 46% of east Jerusalem Arabs view the police positively. In addition, the willingness of Arabs from the east of the city to forge ties with Jews – proves that the story of east Jerusalem Arabs is complex and multi-faceted.
Here
is a different, optimistic viewpoint on the position and placement of
east Jerusalem's Arabs within the fabric of Israeli society: 42% of this
budget-deprived community, despite living in neighborhoods whose level
of infrastructure and services is often reminiscent of developing
nations, feel a sense of belonging to Israeli society – a very high and
surprising statistic.
A third (33%) of this group, even though it
is currently embroiled in a harsh national and religious conflict with
us, is proud to be Israeli. In east Jerusalem, where Hamas has gained a
foothold in recent years, 43% of Arabs recognize the historical and
religious connection between the Jewish people and the land of Israel.
An almost unbelievable 46% of east
Jerusalem Arabs view the police positively. In addition, the willingness
of Arabs from the east of the city to forge ties with Jews – as
demonstrated both in an Israel Hayom poll from last week and in
soon-to-be-published research on the employment of east Jerusalem Arabs
by Marik Shtern and Ahmed Asmar – proves that the story of east
Jerusalem Arabs is complex and multi-faceted.
Eighty-five percent of east Jerusalem Arabs
were born after the city's reunification in 1967, and do not remember a
time when the city was divided. Many are undergoing a process of
"Israelization," not to say westernization, and are becoming more and
more like Israeli Arabs. Some, dissatisfied with their permanent
residency status, are requesting Israeli citizenship, but this is
granted sparingly.
Despite this, however, merely a few
thousand of the 335,000 east Jerusalem Arabs have voted in municipal
elections for Jerusalem's city council, even though they have the right
to vote, as permanent residents. Incidentally, far more east Jerusalem
residents would vote, and perhaps shape a list that actually represents
them in the municipality, had they not been terrorized by Fatah and
Hamas.
Theoretically, they could determine a third
of the seats in city hall. In practice, however, they seldom exercise
their right to vote as this would be interpreted as recognizing Israeli
control over the unified city.
But this time things can be different. The
voice of reason is finally being heard on the streets of east Jerusalem.
They are slowly acknowledging that the way to change the physical and
societal crisis in these neighborhoods goes through the budgets and
political influence in Safra Square, the seat of the Jerusalem
Municipality.
As Jews and Israelis, we shouldn't be
afraid of this change. If voters and political lists from east Jerusalem
were to participate actively in local elections, it would be a welcome
thing. Jerusalem is a binational city, and that is not going to change
anytime soon.
For past 50 years, we have failed to take
care of providing them with proper sewers, sidewalks, roads, lighting,
parks and other infrastructure and basic services. Therefore, it is only
fitting and right for them to do it for themselves – from within,
through the only place they can influence municipal priorities, putting
aside the political debate over Jerusalem.
However, Israel needs to create the
conditions for them to participate in truly free elections. They will
not come to the ballots if they fear being shot on the way, or having
their cars torched. The police and the Shin Bet security agency, for
their part, must enable the Arabs to vote without fear. Technology can
also be used to this end – in the 21st century, it is possible to vote
using a computer, even from home or from the workplace.
Even those who fear east Jerusalem Arabs
influencing national Jewish interests in Jerusalem should not be afraid
of striking a true partnership with them. Though the Jewish majority in
Jerusalem has in fact shrunk over the years, it remains steady at 60%.
Furthermore, the momentous decisions about Jerusalem – construction,
budgets and borders for example – are decided by the national
government, not the municipality.
Incidentally, it is possible to restore the
Jewish majority in the city if we reject American pressure and build up
Jerusalem and its environs at a much greater pace – even if we just
move the city limits a little in the north, beyond the separation
barrier, which already de facto disconnected Arab neighborhoods from
Jerusalem, and establish separate Israeli local councils for the Arabs
there.
Nadav Shragai
Source: http://www.israelhayom.com/opinions/our-chance-with-jerusalems-arabs/
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