 |
Al-Ahram Weekly 18 - 24 March 1999 Issue No. 421 
|
||
Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
 |
 |
|
|
Al-Ahram Weekly 18 - 24 March 1999 Issue No. 421
|
||
| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
|
|
|
Egypt Region International Economy Opinion Culture Profile Features Travel Living Sports People Time Out Chronicles Cartoons Letters The eternal city
By Naguib Mahfouz
The EU's recent confirmation of its refusal to recognise Jerusalem as the unified capital of Israel simply ratified, in a sense, the conviction that prevails throughout the Arab world, and even, to a large extent, in the United States. A few years ago, when Congress suggested that the US Embassy in Israel be moved to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv, I remember that the White House expressed its reservations, and eventually the suggestion was mooted. This reflects the conscience of the world community, which cannot remain dormant forever.
Jerusalem, furthermore, is a special place, unlike any other city in the world. It cannot be dealt with as so much occupied or disputed territory; perhaps this is why the 1947 Partition Plan stipulated its status as an international city, taking into account its exceptional sanctity. By occupying Arab Jerusalem, Israel has unified the city, although Israel should be the first to know the dangers of such a step -- it was Hitler, after all, who sought to "unify" Europe by occupying Germany's neighbours!
The Arabs do not oppose the unification of Jerusalem; they do oppose Israel's sole control over the city. Just as Israel would never relinquish Western Jerusalem, there is no reason that the Arabs should give up the Eastern sector. This is why the problem of Jerusalem should be solved in a radically different way.
Based on an interview by Mohamed Salmawy.
