Obama official: "Occupied" East Jerusalem is the heart of Judaism

From todays's e-mails
By O.
25 May '10

As I'm sure you know, Rahm Emmanuel is currently in Israel in order to celebrate his son's bar mitzah. According to some sources, the Bar Mitzvah is planned to be at the Kotel (AKA "Occupied East Jerusalem"). And of course, that's the most symbolic and coveted place for an American Jew to celebrate his son's Bar Mitzvah. Emmanuel is doing what many other American Jews yearn to do.

It's great that he's coming, and like many Israelis, I welcome him to Jerusalem and wish him a hearty 'Mazel Tov', but the the hypocrisy should be made clear: The Jew who says that the Kotel is 'on the table', comes to that same place for his religious observance.

Would Emmanuel have come here if the Kotel would have been under PA rule? Would he have come here to celebrate his son's Bar Mitzvah in Tel Aviv? Probably not. Good thing we don't have peace yet - where would he have celebrated then?

Israel united Jerusalem, and gave free access and freedom of religion, to all religions. Congress commended Israel and recognized Jerusalem as our capital. But it seems that the American Executive branch sees Jerusalem as just a piece of conquered Palestinian territory, and a chip on the bargaining table.

I therefore wish to thank Rahm Emmanuel, since actions speak louder than diplomacy. As his son opens the Torah scroll before our ancient wall, the Emmanuel family will connect itself to the Jewish people, to its history and to its holy city.

Rahm Emmnauel's visit clearly says: "Occupied East Jerusalem" is *the* heart of Judaism.

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