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The open revolt of the
Palestinians against the Israeli occupation of the Old City in the
first
half of 1988, sparked
off in part by the activities of the settlers and Sharon’s
provocative
move into the Muslim
Quarter has made conjecture as to future development extremely
difficult. While the
Palestinian uprising has had an immediate affect in freezing the
situation
in the Old City, it is
not likely to alter the situation in the medium and long-terms
unless, of
course, there is a
political settlement between the PLO and the Israeli government.
In the medium-term,
given the weakness of the Municipality in the face of the settler
groups’
operations and
government support for them, and given the strength of their
financial base
and legal position, it
would seem that the existing properties held by the settlers will
continue to remain in
their possession. This means that the “chains” of settler-occupied
property have already
become the status quo. Without stiff Palestinian resistance, the
next
few years will see the
gradual depopulation of the Aqabat Khalidi of Palestinian residents.
One can project that
within five years the Jewish Quarter will be enlarged to absorb this
part of the Muslim
Quarter. Growth of Israeli Jewish settlement in the northern Tariq
al-Wad
section and the Bab al-Huta
area is likely to be more gradual and more dependent on
governmental
intervention but will be along similar lines.
The longer term is quite
likely to see the clearance of areas of Palestinian residence,
leaving only the major
historical sites, museums and schools. The commercial areas of the
bazaar and suqs will be
left for touristic reasons while Christian premises along
The Via Dolorosa will be
retained so as not to alarm the Western church hierarchies. Israeli
Jewish settlement will
increase in the Muslim Quarter but will be restricted to yeshiva
students, the main
emphasis being the restoration of synagogues and Jewish sites of
historical interest. In
conclusion, if the Israeli occupation of the Old City continues
without
major changes, by the
end of the century we are likely to see an Old City “Disneyworld”
featuring variously-clad
religious personnel with Palestinian shopkeepers providing and
exotic biblical backdrop
for tourist excursion.
From the book :
“Palestine: Profile of an occupation”.
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