Israel Signals Willingness to Split Jerusalem

Jordan would assume control in exchange for truce with Palestinians
By Jonas Oransky,  Newser Staff
Posted Oct 8, 2007 4:50 PM CDT
Israel Signals Willingness to Split Jerusalem
In this photo released by the Government Press Office, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, right, talks to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, in the sukkah, a traditional shack built for the week long Jewish holiday of Sukkot, in the Prime Minister's residence in Jerusalem, Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2007....   (Associated Press)

Israel appears willing to consider splitting Jerusalem to achieve peace with the Palestinians, ahead of a critical November summit in Annapolis, Md. A deputy PM said almost “all Palestinian neighborhoods would be transferred.” The Jewish state reportedly has also considered transferring the city’s holiest site—already partly administered by Jordan—to Amman, the London Times reports.

In a peculiar turn, some from Israel’s extreme right welcomed the development, with one saying, “We must make concessions.” The city's status has long been a sticking point in the Middle East conflict. Neither side would reveal much about preliminary negotiations, but a Palestinian paper reported the prime ministers have already agreed to Jordanian control of the Temple Mount. (More Israel stories.)

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