Incredible. Mairav Zonszein at +972: Congressman Jerrold Nadler writes to Israeli ambassador Michael Oren about a Jewish graveyard in occupied East Jerusalem, and threats to visitors there. The graveyard is right next to an illegal Israeli settlement, of which the U.S. approves of course:
“I would greatly appreciate it if you could tell me what steps are being taken in terms of securing the area, what the timeline is for these measures, and what is being done in the interim to ensure that visitors are safe. It is in all of our interests to make sure that this site, which is of the utmost importance to so many Jews in my district and around the world, is protected and secure from attacks and vandalism.”
…To Congressman Nadler’s request Amb. Oren will likely respond by assuring him that Israeli authorities are taking all measures necessary to increase their control of the area, which just happens to be one of the most sensitive sites in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and paces away from where the Second Intifada began.
I doubt he will mention the fact that dozens more housing units are now under construction in Maale Zeitim, or that just across the street, a new settlement called Maale David is being built, which is slated to connect to Maale Zeitim, together making them the largest settlement in East Jerusalem.
What Congressman Nadler should have added in his letter to Amb. Oren, is his concern and disdain for Israel’s reckless and disingenuous policy in East Jerusalem, which is directly responsible for endangering the lives of Israeli citizens and all the residents of the city, not to mention further deepening the reality of an apartheid state,
