The Struggle for United Jerusalem

The Jerusalem Institute for Strategic Studies launched in November 2017 with a conference on the importance of an undivided Jerusalem to Israel’s security and destiny. Featured speakers included Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat, Jerusalem Affairs Minister Zeev Elkin, Jerusalem police chief Yoram Halevy, and JISS fellows Major General (res.) Yaakov Amidror, Dr. David Koren, Prof. Efraim Inbar, and Colonel (res.) Dr. Eran Lerman.

Among the issues most hotly debated was the status of eastern Jerusalem Arab neighborhoods situated outside the security fence. Elkin argued for cutting them out of the municipal boundaries, while Barkat and Koren strongly disagreed. Amidror suggested great caution in dealing with the Temple Mount, while Lerman explained why Jordan and Saudi Arabia prefer the status quo on the Temple Mount – with Israel in charge.

The conference launched an institute task force which intends to present policy recommendations for strengthening Israel’s sovereign control of the broader Jerusalem security envelope and Israel’s municipal management of a united city. Keeping Jerusalem united is a central founding principle of JISS.

 


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Abstracts

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Full lectures

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Conference Program