The National Union-National Religious Party faction in Jerusalem is courting Arab voters under the slogan, “Only we really want your neighborhood to stay within the boundaries of Jerusalem and inside the barrier.” The initiative has been greeted with enthusiasm, activists say.
Activists took to the streets on Wednesday to meet with Arabs living in Jerusalem neighborhoods to the east of the separation barrier being built in the city. The group was led by united Jerusalem activist Aryeh King. Arab residents of Anata, near Mount Scopus, greeted the group warmly.
Residents of the neighborhood complained that the standard of living in their community had dropped sharply due to fears that the area would not be included within the municipal boundary of Jerusalem in a future peace deal, but rather would be left to Palestinian Authority control. Arab residents of Jerusalem are eligible for benefits from Israel and receive services from the city, and in addition have permits allowing them to work for Israeli employers.
One resident told activists that the value of his home had dropped sharply due to threats that Anata would be cut off from the rest of the city. He said was planning to vote for the NU-NRP because only they could be trusted to move the separation barrier further east. Another resident thanked King, saying, “You're our only chance to stay in Jerusalem.”
King has encountered similar reactions in the past due to his efforts to build and strengthen Jewish neighborhoods in areas of Jerusalem with an Arab majority. While such efforts have often been met with hostility in the past, King said many Arabs have recently thanked him and expressed hope that the presence of Jewish-owned buildings in their neighborhoods will add to the chances that the areas will remain within the Jerusalem city limits.
The activists handed out flyers in Arabic explaining the party's platform. “Only the 'Tov' party list has candidates who have proved their willingness to fight to keep the neighborhoods of Anata, HaShalom, Ras Hamis, and Shuafat within the Jerusalem city limits,” the flyer said. The NU-NRP party will act to improve infrastructure in Arab neighborhoods, it continued, “We'll work to make the standard of living in your neighborhoods equal to that elsewhere in the city.”
The flyer went on to explain the difference between NU-NRP and other parties, “For us, 'Jerusalem' isn't a political matter, it is a part of us, so we won't let any mayor or government cut your neighborhoods off from the rest of Jerusalem... We will oppose the completion of the separation barrier and work to move it eastward.”