Perilous
Times
Jerusalem's mayor says the holy city cannot be divided and
will stay Israeli
By Dan Perry, The Associated Press | The Canadian Press
JERUSALEM - The Israeli mayor of Jerusalem says his city cannot be
divided, despite demands by Palestinians for sovereignty over part
of the city as their capital.
Mayor Nir Barkat said Wednesday Palestinians and Israelis are so
intertwined that the city cannot be carved up between them.
Israel captured the east part of the city, along with the West
Bank, in the 1967 Mideast war.
Since then Israel has built neighbourhoods for Jews in the eastern
half where about 200,000 live now. They encircle the Palestinian
neighbourhoods.
Barkat said dividing the city would be "totally dysfunctional."
Palestinians consider the Jewish neighbourhoods in east Jerusalem
as illegal settlements. The international community has not
recognized Israel's annexation of east Jerusalem.