Publications

In this new study, Jerome M. Segal (University of Maryland), Shlomit Levy (Israeli Democracy Institute), Nadar Izzat Said (Bir Zeit University), and Elihu Katz (University of Pennsylvania) attempt to address the seemingly intractable issue of Jerusalem within the context of the Arab-Israeli conflict. The question of the sovereignty of Jerusalem and its territorial integrity has long been a sticking point in the progress of dialogue and negotiation between Palestinians and Israelis. The authors seek to uncover new and innovative ways of addressing and mediating the issue by finding the most effective approach that would dispose each side to compromise. The book is written from a sociological perspective that examines the beliefs, values, and attitudes of ordinary people rather than focusing on the positions of the Israeli government and the PLO.

The methodology used for this study included extensive door-to-door interviews with members of both communities. Each interview consisted of almost 100 questions all focused on the Jerusalem issue. Overall the authors find that breaking down the Jerusalem issue into component pieces transforms the entire nature of the debate. In other words, by presenting Jerusalem for consideration in sectors, most on both sides make distinctions between and rank certain parts of the city as far more important "as Jerusalem" than other parts.

The study uncovered that the willingness to compromise by Israeli Jews depended on the extent to which that individual believed that a peace treaty would lead to real peace. On the Palestinian side, according to the research, 80% favor negotiations on the Jerusalem problem as a part of the peace process. Another important sentiment that was exposed through the interviews was that, in general, both sides believe that the other has "some legitimate rights in regard to Jerusalem."

These findings lend credibility and optimism to the prospects of successfully negotiating the issue. It indicates that, contrary to popular belief, some level of common ground between the two sides does exist. In the final chapter entitled "Is Jerusalem Negotiable?", Segal presents a framework for an agreement on the final status of Jerusalem. It is a model for a "two-cities" approach that would divide and redraw the city according to demographics and sentiment. The result would be a partitioning of the city between Palestinians and the Israelis, leaving only about 1% to 2 % of overlap around the highly symbolic and charged issue of the Old City. He also provides suggestions and recommendations that may help to diminish the dispute over sovereignty of this overlapping area.

The entire volume offers an inclusive evaluation of the degree to which public opinion affects the potential negotiability of the Jerusalem question. The study is a creative and innovative way to approach the dilemma over Jerusalem and a valuable contribution to the ongoing efforts for peace in the region. (Rosemary Bchara)

Bulletin of Regional Cooperation in the Middle East Spring 2001
Copyright 2004 Search for Common Ground