Leading Israeli Leftist Warns Eastern Jerusalem Could Become Another Gaza
Dr. Aaron Lerner Date 17 October 2007

Writing in an Op-Ed titled "They Depend On Us" that appears in the Hebrew
edition of today's Haaretz, Meir Margalit (Israeli Committee Against House
Demolitions - former Meretz representative in Jerusalem City Council) warns
that eastern Jerusalem could become another Gaza if the Arab neighborhoods
become part of a Palestinian state and Israel, in turn, cuts off the
payments and transfers it now makes that benefit the Arab residents.

The article in Hebrew can be found at
www.haaretz.co.il/hasite/spages/913560.html

Margalit estimates that Israel today is transferring NIS 200 million a year
in national insurance payments to the Arabs of eastern Jerusalem while the
municipality of Jerusalem spends an additional NIS 300 million a year in
eastern Jerusalem (not covered by municipal taxes paid by the Arabs)..

He warns that someone - either Israel or the international community - would
have to continue footing this NIS 500 million a year bill as otherwise
eastern Jerusalem would completely collapse and face a humanitarian crises
that would turn it into another radical Gaza.

Dr. Aaron Lerner, Director IMRA (Independent Media Review & Analysis)
(Mail POB 982 Kfar Sava)
Tel 972-9-7604719/Fax 972-3-7255730
INTERNET ADDRESS: imra@netvision.net.il
Website: http://www.imra.org.il