As the Israeli electorate prepares to bid farewell to Ehud Barak next week, supporters of a united Jerusalem can seemingly breathe an enormous sigh of relief. Though he came perilously close to dividing Israel?s capital, first at Camp David and then at the recently concluded Taba talks, Barak ultimately failed to obtain a deal with the Palestinians. Hence, the unity of the city would appear to be safe for now.
But a closer look at the situation reveals that whereas Jerusalem?s indivisibility may be secure in the short-term, Barak succeeded in harming the city?s prospects for unity in the long-term. Therein lies the challenge facing those who wish to ensure continued Israeli control over an undivided Jerusalem.
History will no doubt judge Ehud Barak sternly, for he will go down as the first Jewish leader in the annals of our people who was prepared to voluntarily divide Israel?s capital and turn over the Temple Mount, Israel?s most sacred site, to foreign control. He crossed Israel?s most sensitive red line, one that had long served as a mantra for governments both left and right: Never again will Jerusalem be divided.
In so doing, Ehud Barak tampered with the dreams of generations of Jews, whose longing to return to Zion was directed not to Ben-Yehuda Street or even the Malha Mall, but to the heart of the Old City, where Solomon?s Temple once stood. Such was the severity of his actions, that Barak managed to do something previously deemed unthinkable: he compelled American Jewry to speak out publicly and in unison against an Israeli government.
In Israel itself, however, Barak succeeded in piercing the consensus about Jerusalem. True, his proposal elicited sharp opposition and dismay, resulting in perhaps the largest demonstration in the country?s history. Thousands of people who might otherwise not attend protests or rallies, nevertheless came to show their support for Jerusalem. But once the red line was crossed, once the door has been opened, it will prove far easier for a future Israeli leader to take the next step and walk through.
By offering to divide Jerusalem and repeatedly downplaying the significance of the eastern part of the city, Barak has vastly strengthened the Palestinian argument regarding its future status. Barak?s proposal, adopted and hailed by former U.S. President Bill Clinton, will now be taken up by world leaders and international forums and used to hammer Israel mercilessly. If Israel?s most decorated soldier was prepared to share the Holy City, they will argue, then why shouldn?t future Israeli leaders be prepared to do the same?
For what was once taboo, has now become acceptable. What was once unthinkable has now become conceivable. That is Barak?s legacy. Not only did he raise Palestinian expectations about Jerusalem, he lowered those of Israelis, some of whom will likely be more open to the possibility of dividing the city and yielding its holy sites.
To counter this trend, it will be necessary to adopt a long-term strategy aimed at strengthening the Jewish connection to Jerusalem, one that will require more than just lip service on the part of American Jews. Those who wish to secure Jerusalem?s future can start by supporting the various organizations working to reclaim Jewish homes in various parts of the city. By creating facts on the ground, such as boosting the Jewish presence in the city?s eastern neighborhoods, it will become vastly more difficult for any future government to yield control over these areas.
Concrete political action is also paramount. Pressure should be applied on the new Bush administration to quickly move the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, thereby sending the world a concrete message of American support for Israel?s eternal capital. A public campaign should be mounted by Jewish organizations to ensure that Mr. Bush lives up to his campaign promise on the matter.
In addition, Diaspora synagogues should ?adopt? counterparts in Jerusalem and forge dynamic relationships among their congregants. This will help to strengthen the bonds between Diaspora Jews and Jerusalem and create a living link with the Holy City.
Whenever the time comes for prayer, there is inevitably someone who asks, ?Which way is east?? The next time you turn to address your Maker, bear in mind that you are not merely facing east ? you are facing a united Jerusalem. And if you want to ensure that you will be able to continue doing so in the future, the time to act is now.
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Michael Freund served as Deputy Director for Communications & Policy Planning in the Israeli Prime Minister?s Office from 1996 to 1999.
But a closer look at the situation reveals that whereas Jerusalem?s indivisibility may be secure in the short-term, Barak succeeded in harming the city?s prospects for unity in the long-term. Therein lies the challenge facing those who wish to ensure continued Israeli control over an undivided Jerusalem.
History will no doubt judge Ehud Barak sternly, for he will go down as the first Jewish leader in the annals of our people who was prepared to voluntarily divide Israel?s capital and turn over the Temple Mount, Israel?s most sacred site, to foreign control. He crossed Israel?s most sensitive red line, one that had long served as a mantra for governments both left and right: Never again will Jerusalem be divided.
In so doing, Ehud Barak tampered with the dreams of generations of Jews, whose longing to return to Zion was directed not to Ben-Yehuda Street or even the Malha Mall, but to the heart of the Old City, where Solomon?s Temple once stood. Such was the severity of his actions, that Barak managed to do something previously deemed unthinkable: he compelled American Jewry to speak out publicly and in unison against an Israeli government.
In Israel itself, however, Barak succeeded in piercing the consensus about Jerusalem. True, his proposal elicited sharp opposition and dismay, resulting in perhaps the largest demonstration in the country?s history. Thousands of people who might otherwise not attend protests or rallies, nevertheless came to show their support for Jerusalem. But once the red line was crossed, once the door has been opened, it will prove far easier for a future Israeli leader to take the next step and walk through.
By offering to divide Jerusalem and repeatedly downplaying the significance of the eastern part of the city, Barak has vastly strengthened the Palestinian argument regarding its future status. Barak?s proposal, adopted and hailed by former U.S. President Bill Clinton, will now be taken up by world leaders and international forums and used to hammer Israel mercilessly. If Israel?s most decorated soldier was prepared to share the Holy City, they will argue, then why shouldn?t future Israeli leaders be prepared to do the same?
For what was once taboo, has now become acceptable. What was once unthinkable has now become conceivable. That is Barak?s legacy. Not only did he raise Palestinian expectations about Jerusalem, he lowered those of Israelis, some of whom will likely be more open to the possibility of dividing the city and yielding its holy sites.
To counter this trend, it will be necessary to adopt a long-term strategy aimed at strengthening the Jewish connection to Jerusalem, one that will require more than just lip service on the part of American Jews. Those who wish to secure Jerusalem?s future can start by supporting the various organizations working to reclaim Jewish homes in various parts of the city. By creating facts on the ground, such as boosting the Jewish presence in the city?s eastern neighborhoods, it will become vastly more difficult for any future government to yield control over these areas.
Concrete political action is also paramount. Pressure should be applied on the new Bush administration to quickly move the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, thereby sending the world a concrete message of American support for Israel?s eternal capital. A public campaign should be mounted by Jewish organizations to ensure that Mr. Bush lives up to his campaign promise on the matter.
In addition, Diaspora synagogues should ?adopt? counterparts in Jerusalem and forge dynamic relationships among their congregants. This will help to strengthen the bonds between Diaspora Jews and Jerusalem and create a living link with the Holy City.
Whenever the time comes for prayer, there is inevitably someone who asks, ?Which way is east?? The next time you turn to address your Maker, bear in mind that you are not merely facing east ? you are facing a united Jerusalem. And if you want to ensure that you will be able to continue doing so in the future, the time to act is now.
------------------------------------------
Michael Freund served as Deputy Director for Communications & Policy Planning in the Israeli Prime Minister?s Office from 1996 to 1999.