Tomorrow, May 8, marks Jerusalem Day, and as the celebrations get under way, The Times of Israel is reporting on the national obsession… demographics:
In 2012, some 22,800 babies were born in Jerusalem, of whom 14,600 were Jewish and 7,900 were Muslim. Fertility rates for Jews in Jerusalem were far higher than the national average: In 2011 the average Jewish woman in the capital had 4.24 children, as compared to 2.98 in the country as a whole. The average Muslim woman in Jerusalem had 3.71 children, slightly higher than the national average of 3.51 among Muslims.
As we brace ourselves for news of the celebrations, Jerusalem’s mayor is spreading the joy. Ma’an: Mayor wants ‘sole Jewish rule’ in Jerusalem
Israel’s mayor of Jerusalem said Tuesday that Palestinians will never have sovereignty in the Holy City, suggesting that they rename Ramallah as “northern Jerusalem” instead.
Speaking to The Times of Israel news site, Nir Barkat said it was in Jerusalem’s DNA to be under “sole Jewish rule” and pressure from the international community to stop building on occupied territory was “illegal.”
“The answer is no separation of the city … If the world pushes us there, it’s just a matter of time before things will fall apart,” Barkat told the Times on the eve of Jerusalem Day, a controversial national holiday celebrating what Israelis call the “reunification” of the city………
Barkat said it was “ridiculous” that Jews were not allowed to pray in the highly sensitive Al-Aqsa compound and added that he was uncomfortable with the status quo on the issue.
In Jerusalem DNA to be jewish even though jews didn’t found it. The entitlement of these people is awe inspiring
It’s not a perfect situation and it will never be perfect, but for freedom of religion, only under Israeli control can all three major religions of this region reach a balance that is best for all three combined. Whether you love Israel with a passion or hate Israel with a passion, this is fact. For those of you who are going to start up with stolen lands blah blah blah, Palestinians have never controlled Jerusalem, not even for a single day, ever. The Jordanians controlled East Jerusalem until 1967. The British controlled East Jerusalem until 1948. The Turks controlled East Jerusalem until 1917. But never the Palestinians. Go back far enough in history and the Jews controlled Jerusalem, both for a long time and for a significant period in the history of the Jewish people. The same cannot be said of the Palestinians.
“…pressure from the international community to stop building on occupied territory was “illegal.”:
So, e.g., the 4th Geneva Convention was illegal?
On more domestic matters, here’s a bit about Obama’s nominee for Commerce Secretary: http://www.thenation.com/blog/174183/penny-pritzkers-commerce-part-one#
The mayor is a fruitcake. Jewish jerusalem’s dna is betar and haredi intolerance . The secular are leaving in droves. The pity of it all. West jerusalem has no pride or self belief, hence the checkpoints. West jerusalem is not happy. The city is too heavy a load on top of its crumbling ideology and small mindedness. Jerusalem needs people who are more mysterious and joyful to run it. Zionism is too cold and heartless to do justice to the city.
You know who else spoke of ‘blood and soil?’…