U.S. Drafts Plan To Cut Jerusalem In 2 & Give PA Sovereignty Over Sections of Temple Mount After 5 Years (see story below)
O Jerusalem! America drafts plan to cut in 2
Allows Palestinian security control, asks Israel to forfeit Temple Mount
Posted: April 09, 2008
11:30 pm Eastern
By Aaron Klein
© 2008 WorldNetDaily
JERUSALEM – The United States, which has been mediating negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority here, has proposed a plan to divide Jerusalem, WND has learned.
The plan, divided into separate phases, among other things calls for Israel eventually to forfeit parts of the Temple Mount, Judaism's holiest site.
According to the first stage of the U.S. plan, which was obtained by WND, Israel would give the PA some municipal and security sovereignty over key Arab neighborhoods in eastern Jerusalem.
The PA would be allowed to open some official institutions in Jerusalem, could elect a mayor for the Palestinian side of the city and would deploy police forces to maintain law and order.
The initial stage also calls for the PA to operate Jerusalem municipal institutions, such as offices to oversee trash collection and maintenance of roads.
After five years, if both sides keep their certain commitments called for in a larger principal agreement, according to the U.S. plan the PA would be given full sovereignty over the eastern Jerusalem neighborhoods and also over sections of the Temple Mount. The plan doesn't specify which parts of the Temple Mount would be forfeited to the Palestinians.
After the five year period, the PA could deploy official security forces in Jerusalem separate from a police force and could also open major governmental institutions, such as a president's office, and offices for the finance and foreign ministries.
The U.S. plan leaves Israel and the PA to negotiate which Jerusalem neighborhoods would become Palestinian. According to diplomatic sources familiar with the plan, while specific neighborhoods were not officially listed, American officials recommended sections of Jerusalem's Old City as well as certain largely Arab Jerusalem neighborhoods such as Jabal mukabar, Beit Hanina, Shoafat, Abu Dis and Abu Tur become part of the Palestinian side.
As WND reported previously, many of the Arab neighborhoods of Jerusalem, including all of Shoafat, a large Arab section, were constructed illegally on property owned by the Jewish National Fund, a Jewish nonprofit that purchases property using Jewish donors funds for the stated purpose of Jewish settlement.
According to diplomatic sources, the plan is being discussed by Israel and the PA but has not yet been accepted.
FULL STORY at
PA: No Decision on Jerusalem for 5 Years(IsraelNN.com) Palestinian Authority sources quoted in Yediot Acharonot said Thursday that negotiators had agreed to push off a final decision on the status of Jerusalem for five years. In the meantime, they said, Israel and the PA will reach a temporary agreement allowing the PA to take municipal control of certain Arab neighborhoods in the capital city.
The decision to postpone a final decision was reportedly made recently in negotiations between Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and senior PA negotiator Ahmed Qurei (Abu Ala). Israel has not confirmed the report.
The PA insists that it be given all areas of Jerusalem that were under Jordanian control between 1948 and 1967, including the Old City and the Temple Mount, as the capital of a new PA state. The issue has caused tension within the coalition, and the Shas party has threatened to leave the government if Israeli negotiators agree to split the city.
Palestinians: Discussion on Jerusalem to be delayed
Ynet learns that Israel, Palestinians discussing US proposal for temporary five-year agreement to be signed by year's end without addressing issues of Jerusalem, refugees. 'US pressure will force sides to accept offer,' Palestinian source states.
FULL STORY at http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3529997,00.html