Comments on: Why I let a Palestinian woman from East Jerusalem decide my vote

By: The Trespasser

The Trespasser — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 23:39:37 +0000

1. These 2 places are controlled by Israel because in 1922 and 1948 Arabs had declined peace.

2. Hamas was declared as terrorist organization.

If Gazans want to be represented by a terrorist organization – it is their holy democratic right. However it also means that Gaza Strip is officially at war with Israel.

By: Rauna

Rauna — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 02:48:58 +0000

Palestinian governments in both sections have overstayed their mandates.

1. These 2 places are not even a proper/legitimate states and have no right to self determination. So what different does it make. Their life and affairs are controlled and dictated by the Israeli government.

2. Hamas was democratically elected but the whole world refused to recognize this legitimate government instead it’s been labelled as a terrorist organisation. Seems that freedom house has overlooked this fact.

“Never forget the Ethnic Cleansing of Jews from the Muslim/Arab lands”

R, actually you’re the one who had forgotten about the facts on the ground. The muslim/arabs have been ethnically cleansed from their villages and lands since 1900s and intensified after the creation of jewish state.This continued through into the millenium. Arabs in Jerusalem are subjected to so many legal instruments designed to make their life harder and eventually force them into a tight corner. In Area C, the Arabs has been treated like subhumans with barely basic amenities to live on. That’s the facts not a myth.

I hope you’re proud of what you’re doing and enjoy your life in Israel.

By: Vicky

Vicky — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 10:32:08 +0000

That’s the point. So long as Israel is governing the non-citizen population of the OPT by martial law and settling the West Bank, no one can possibly judge the ‘freedom’ it affords to its residents solely on the basis of what happens within a set of borders that it is not abiding by.

By: Kolumn9

Kolumn9 — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 08:14:52 +0000

No, a lot of people argue that those are her borders and base the rest of their arguments on this point. The argument is that Israel exercises power and settles people beyond some line that signifies to them the supposed legal extent of Israel’s sovereignty.

By: Reimy

Reimy — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 04:41:31 +0000

In the past year the Israeli ministry of interior has frozen all applications of East Jerusalem residents for Israeli citizens. East Jerusalem residents can vote for the municipal elections of Jerusalem. So, please don’t throw around words such as laziness etc. etc

By: Greg Pollock

Greg Pollock — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 03:17:19 +0000

Mairav has the ability to see and make connection across what many others see as socio-political no man’s land. This ability has a painful side, emoting “incorrectly,” with some alienation thereby. Seeing something others do not–well, who is crazy?

As to East Jerusalem Palestinians offered registration for the vote, a population born to annexed administrative control should not have to ask for the vote. If Israel wants its eternal Jerusalem, treat residents there as full citizens–don’t ask them to endure severance in their family, ethnic, and friendship identities. Citizenship has nothing to do with patriarchcal largesse. Rather, citizenship is a check on the State via membership beyond the State’s control. All at once, to every East Jerusalemite born post 67.

By: Vicky

Vicky — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 00:49:36 +0000

A lot of people on this site argue that those *should* be Israel’s boundaries. There’s a glaring difference.

By: amir

amir — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 00:20:28 +0000

Thank you Vicky for this reply.

By: Kolumn9

Kolumn9 — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 00:01:36 +0000

Do you mean that they judge Israel within the same borders that most people on this site believe are her boundaries according to international law?

By: Kolumn9

Kolumn9 — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 23:59:08 +0000

You make this huge deal about East Jerusalem Arabs not voting in national elections when they abstain from doing so only out of personal choice.

You are of course welcome to argue that they don’t want citizenship for whatever complicated reason, but arguing both sides is hypocritical.