From the way the Calgary Herald reported on events in "Arab East Jerusalem" today, one would think that this area is separate, either by geography, history, or ethnicity. The term is often used to denote all the areas in Jerusalem that were under Jordanian rule from 1948 until 1967, and use of the term implies that this is the "Arab" side of the city. However, this would include areas like the entire Old City with the Western Wall, where Jews lived for centuries uninterrupted until 1948. In addition, although there are neighbourhoods that are predominantly Arab, there are also neighbourhoods that are predominantly Jewish. There is no geographic line or border that separates these neighbourhoods from one another. To lump all these areas together and collectively imply that an Arab claim to this area is more legitimate than a Jewish claim is simply wrong.
Mike Fegelman
Mike is the Executive Director of HonestReporting Canada and is responsible for the day-to-day running of the organization, its financial management and project development. A seventeen-year veteran of the Canadian journalism industry, Mike was a former editor-in-chief, reporter, and anchor of various news programs and publications. Mike's focus is on delivering efficiency and professionalism as HRC moves into new technological and geographical spheres. Mike is a human rights expert and a frequent on-air commentator. His work has been published in the Globe and Mail, the National Post, Toronto Star, CBC News and more.
