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We offer a possible compromise solution as follows:

• All expropriations of land at Har Homa/Jebl Abu Ghneim should be abolished and the land restored to the respectful owners, Arab and Jewish;
• These Arab and Jewish owners should be free to build on their respective plots without interference from the Israeli or Palestinian authorities.
• Anyone purchasing housing constructed on the site will have to sign a document acknowledging their awareness that the final political status of the site is to be defined in the framework of the general "final status" talks between Israel and the Palestinians.

A compromise of this kind was discussed between Rabbi Menachem Fruman of the settlement Tekoa and Faisal Husseini, Palestinian minister in charge of Jerusalem issues (Kol Ha'ir newspaper 3/14/97). This compromise overcomes the differences between both parties and considers the following positions:

• Mr. Netanyahu, who won the elections by accusing his predecessor, Mr. Peres, of "intending to divide Jerusalem" cannot afford to declare that he is stopping construction on Har Homa and face the collapse of his government.
• Mr. Arafat, whose people are feeling increasingly frustrated by unilateral Israeli actions, cannot afford to accept the Israeli confiscation of Palestinian land on Jebl Abu Ghneim and its use for constructing a neighborhood for Jewish Israelis. Expropriations of land in East Jerusalem were declared invalid in a long series of UN Security Council resolutions. Any lenience on this point would expose Mr. Arafat to accusations by the Palestinian opposition of having "sold out" Jerusalem and Palestine.

• Mr. Netanyahu cannot reject this offer since it allows building in East Jerusalem while protecting human rights.
• Mr. Arafat cannot refuse this offer since it cancels the expropriations according to the UN Security Council resolutions.

If the Oslo agreement prohibits construction in East Jerusalem, as interpreted by the Palestinian Authority, then no one will be allowed to build in East Jerusalem and this hurts the Palestinian citizens. This is the reason that it's important to distinguish between governmental construction, that effects the status of East Jerusalem and construction by the owners, since they agree that the control of this area will be determined in the permanent agreement between Israel and the Palestinians.

More about the violation of private property rights in Israel on our facts page. See our Har Homa project drawings and read about the peace park we planned to build at the site. Consequences of the expropriation are listed in our open letter to PM Ehud Barak, contained on the crisis page. Read also the UN resolutions on the Har Homa issue and track the media reports from around the world. Read our letters and send your opinion to these honorable people.