[whataretheysaying] Mary Madigan: Annapolis refugees

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Posted by Mary Madigan:
Annapolis refugees
http://whataretheysaying.powerblogs.com/posts/1194450418.shtml


   [1]Thousands of Palestinians apply for Israeli citizenship:*

     Palestinian residents of East Jerusalem calling to set up an
     appointment with the Interior Ministry to apply for an Israeli
     citizenship will discover the next available interview date is only
     in April.

     In the months leading up to the upcoming Annapolis peace conference
     talk of a future division of the city has prompted a staggering
     increase in nationalization requests by Palestinians seeking to
     escape life under the Palestinian Authority...

     The 240,000 non-naturalized Palestinians in the city currently hold
     the status of permanent residents. As Palestinian residents of East
     Jerusalem they were also eligible to participate in the elections
     held by the Palestinian Authority.

     As accepting Israeli citizenship was viewed by many within the
     community as tantamount to treason, most Palestinians opted to
     remain permanent residents and enjoy the benefits of living under
     Israeli sovereignty â full welfare rights, municipal voting rights
     and unrestricted movement - without putting their loyalty to the
     Palestinian Authority into question. The average Palestinian family
     in East Jerusalem currently receives a $770 monthly stipend from
     Israel.

     "They've weighed the pros and cons of life under the Palestinian
     Authority and those under Israel and they've chosen," said
     residents in East Jerusalem of their naturalization-seeking
     neighbors...

     "I don't know what the future holds. There's talk of the
     Palestinian Authority coming to Jerusalem. Personally, I don't
     think that will happen. But only God knows what will happen. I work
     as a mechanic for an Israeli company, I have both Jewish and Arab
     friends. I speak Hebrew and go out to Tel Aviv and Akko in the
     evenings. I just want a better future," he said.

   Are these Palestinians saying that they'd rather live under the kind
   of government that maintains cities like this:
   akkodocks

   ..than under the kind of government that produces terrorism and
   [2]sewage tsunamis?
   [3]palestine_sewage 

   Who knew?

   * Link thanks to Steve D., who asks "I wonder how many people know
   that most Arabs in Jerusalem receive stipends from the Israeli
   government?"

   I didn't..

References

   1. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3468672,00.html
   2. http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=070327130407.gdx62jd6&show_article=1&image=large
   3. http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=070327130407.gdx62jd6&show_article=1&image=large