Eastern section of Jerusalem
Eastern section of JerusalemIsrael news photo: Flash 90

Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat is promoting a plan for new municipal boundaries that would swap land, leaving some Arab neighborhoods outside the city.

Barkat met with senior religious Zionist figures in an attempt to persuade them to support the plan, which includes a new security fence and abandoning the land on the other side of the barrier.

Arutz Sheva has discovered that Barkat met with Rabbi Haim Druckman on Wednesday, and Rabbi Shlomo Aviner Thursday to discuss the Jerusalem land swap plan.

According to a source, Rabbi Druckman expressed source for the plan, which he explained would enlarge the capital and leave the Arab neighborhoods "outside." Rightist sources expressed dismay, however, contending, "The character and unity of the city are at stake."

Meanwhile, the Knesset's Ministerial Committee on Legislation is preparing to debate a measure that would declare Jerusalem to be the united capital of the Jewish People and the State of Israel.

The "Jerusalem Bill," sponsored by National Union Knesset Member Aryeh Eldad, is intended to "fight anyone who questions the city's link to the Jewish people, the MK explained.

"In a time when some people advocate making Jerusalem the capital of Palestine, an international capital or other such nonsense, we think there's a place to declare it as the capital of only one people and one country. It has never been anything else," Eldad said.

The bill is backed by Jewish Home MK Zevulun Orlev and would be processed as an amendment to the Basic Law, Jerusalem, Capital of Israel.