Discussions on the future of Jerusalem

On 08 January 2008 the President of the WJC, Ronald S. Lauder, wrote an open letter to the Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert, on the future of the city of Jerusalem. The letter was widely published and reported on in the Israeli media.

Following is the reaction to and commentary on that letter.

Natan Sharansky: Israel must not decide alone
19 January, 2008 - Jerusalem Post, Israel

In my nine years in Israeli governments, I served as a minister in several different offices. In each case, the coalition negotiations needed to obtain each position were arduous, at times even exhausting. There was only one position that I received as a freebie, for it was uncontested: the role of chairman of the Interministerial Committee on Diaspora Affairs.

To read the full text of the article click here

To Talk the Talk, You've Gotta Walk the Walk
17 January, 2008 - The Jewish Exponent, USA

Ronald S. Lauder, the head of the World Jewish Congress, recently wrote an open letter to Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on the issue of Jerusalem in which he expressed the concern of Jews everywhere about the future of Israel's capital.

To read the full text of the article click here

Lauder's letter to Olmert roils WJC's Israel office
17 January, 2008 - JTA

The president of the World Jewish Congress has roiled the organization’s branch in Israel by writing to Prime Minister Ehud Olmert with a plea to allow Diaspora Jews a voice in any decisions on Jerusalem's future.

To read the full text of the article click here

Ehud Olmert told Jewish leaders they have the right to speak out on peace and negotiating issues
16 January, 2008 - JTA

The Israeli prime minister spoke in a conference call with U.S. Jewish leaders on Tuesday in the aftermath of President Bush's visit to the region to promote renewed Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.

Olmert was asked about Jewish leaders who say Israel must take Diaspora Jewish voices into account when negotiating over Jerusalem's future.

Olmert's comments come just a week after the president of the World Jewish Congress, Ronald Lauder, sent the prime minister a letter urging him to take into account the wishes of Diaspora Jewry on the issue of Jerusalem.

Olmert told the conference callers that Israel could not reasonably ask Diaspora Jewish voices to keep silent when it relies so heavily on Jewish support overseas.

Olmert to American Jewish leaders: I want your voice to be heard on Jerusalem
16 January, 2008 - Haaretz

Shmuel Rosner Chief US Correspondent for Haaretz reported on Prime Minister Olmert's reaction to Ronald Lauder's letter of 08 January.

The text of his report can be read here

Statement by WJC Israel Branch
16 January, 2008

On January 8th, Ronald Lauder, President of the World Jewish Congress, sent an open letter to Prime Minister Ehud Olmert which was published in a number of Israeli newspapers.

In his letter he maintains that the Jewish people as a whole should have a voice in deliberations regarding the future of Jerusalem, although, to his credit he acknowledges that Israel has inherent prerogatives as a sovereign state. The Israel branch also notes that in his letter Mr Lauder does not take a position as to whether Jerusalem should be united or divided. This is appropriate. The World Jewish Congress represents all shades of political opinion, from left to the far right.

However, since Mr Lauder has published his notice on a World Jewish Congress letterhead which includes the address of our branch, I am therefore obliged to inform your readers that our Executive Committee does not endorse his remarks, nor were they coordinated with us beforehand. We believe that the decision regarding the future of Jerusalem rests with Israel and the Israel government alone.

Shai Hermesh.

A response to Ronald Lauder
12 January 2008

A response to the letter by Ronald Lauder from Shlomo Avineri, originally published by the Jerusalem Post.

Open Letter by Ronald S. Lauder to Ehud Olmert
08 January, 2008

Ronald S. Lauder, the president of the World Jewish Congress (WJC), wrote an open letter to the Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert, on the future of Jerusalem. Noting that the future of Jerusalem is expected to be discussed during US President Geroge W. Bush's visit to Israel, he highlights the importance of the Holy City to the Jewish people and goes on to say that "it would be inconceivable that any changes in the status of our Holy City will be implemented without giving the Jewish people, as a whole, a voice in the decision".

To read the full text of the letter click here