Monday, November 27, 2017

Our chance with Jerusalem's Arabs - Nadav Shragai




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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