50,000 Israeli Arabs Will Flee PA-Controlled Jerusalem!

A new murmur is coming from a most interesting source—the Israeli Arabs who live in East Jerusalem! “If they put the border here, we’ll move to Haifa and Tel Aviv. You’ll have 50,000 people, who live here, leaving East Jerusalem in minutes!” said Jamil Sanduqa, head of the popular committee that governs the Shuafat neighborhood. If the division of the city is made, 250,000 Israeli Arabs could find themselves under Palestinian rule. Many fear they will be cut off from their workplace, and they will lose their insurance and medical care.

Nabil Gheit, shop owner and mayor of the Ras Hamis community, said if a referendum were held on the issue, “no one would vote to join the Palestinian Authority.” That makes the division of Jerusalem an interesting exercise, as Abbas has said any agreement made with Israel will be submitted to the people for a vote. Mayor Gheit warned that PA rule in East Jerusalem may cause another intifada (uprising) “to defend ourselves from the PA. At least in Israel, there’s law,” he said.

By Ron Ross, BFP Israel Mosaic Radio