The left-wing is up in arms, decrying the announced planned construction of 104 Jewish housing units in the Har HaZeisim area of the capital, known as Ras el-Amud in the media.

This project will join nearby Maale HaZeisim neighborhood as efforts continue to establish a Jewish presence in Arab-occupied areas of the capital, but Jerusalem City Hall in a response to left-wing concerns assured opponents of the project the two areas will not be connected.

Planners also reject left-wing claims that the construction is planned “in the heart” of Arab areas, and will therefore result in provocation – a statement that is tainted with irony since it is the left-wing that constantly sings the praises of co-existence, a reality that is rejected by the Arab so-called peace partners. The same holds true regarding the ability of Arabs to enter all areas, while Jews entering PA (Palestinian Authority) autonomous areas are attacked or lynched, once again, examples of co-existence PA style.

Amazingly, the left-wing refers to this project, in the heart of the capital, as “another settlement”, insisting it is illegal and a “stumbling block to peace” efforts in the region, insisting the so-called eastern areas of the capital must be left in Arab hands to serve as the capital of Palestine once established.

With America blatantly involves itself in Israel’s domestic construction issues, two-thirds of the Jerusalem City Council has sent Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu a letter demanding that he move ahead and permit construction tenders for the Pisgat Ze’ev area of the northern capital, questioning if the delays are indeed due to White House pressure for a cessation of all construction in “occupied areas”.

The names used by the government and media highlight the attitude of governments since the liberation of Yerushalayim in 1967, permitting the Arab names to remain, as is the case with many areas, including the Shimon HaTzaddik neighborhood of the capital, referred to as Wadi Joz. This also holds true in other areas of the country, including Nachal I’ron, referred to commonly as Wadi Ara, once again, giving prominence to Arab claims of sovereignty.

The continued use of the Arab names in Jerusalem’s Old City adds a modicum of legitimacy to the former Jordanian occupation of areas of the Jewish capital as well as labeling the area as ‘Arab’ despite its Jewish roots and its inclusion as a portion of the Jewish capital.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)