A Prophetic Voice

Many of my Episcopal colleagues were outraged. My response was more muted. I was disappointed, but not surprised.

The object of much heated discussion following this Church's recent General Convention in Salt Lake City is the House of Bishops' resounding defeat of substitute resolution D016,  'Being Socially Responsible Investors in Palestine and Israel'.  D016 was a "gentler" substitute for a much stronger resolution encouraging divestment of Church holdings in companies profiting from the Israeli Occupation. It was a call for adoption of BDS – Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions – a policy of non-violent resistance to oppression first pronounced in 2005 by 171 Palestinian civil society organizations and adopted in 2009 by Christians in the Kairos Palestine document.

My response was muted because my experience at our church's 2013 GC in Indianapolis convinced me that, at least at this time, my church is not willing to risk becoming more honestly involved in seeking justice and peace for our Palestinian and Israeli brothers and sisters. I do not expect us to be of one mind in this matter. But I do expect open and honest dialogue.  If D016 had at least reached the House of Deputies, a lively discussion might have been joined. But it was not allowed to see the light of day. And that saddens me.

The institutional church – as well as our befuddled Congress – desperately needs to hear the
prophetic voices that call us to resist complicity in oppression. One such voice, that of our friend Naim Ateek, has just spoken, clearly and honestly, to our newly elected Presiding Bishop, Michael Curry – and to us all.

I am deeply grateful to Naim for his courage and creativity, his clear and consistent voice. No one has better credentials to address our failure or to call us to again be faithful.

Cotton Fite

Naim Ateek

Naim Ateek

July 10, 2015

To: Presiding Bishop-elect Michael Curry

Dear Bishop +Michael:  Please know that I join with all those who congratulate you on your election as the Episcopal Church’s 27^th Presiding Bishop.  Your election is a new sign of hope to many people who wish to see the Church speaking prophetically for a just world.  Already, many Palestinians in the Episcopal diocese of Jerusalem have said to me that as the first Presiding Bishop of African descent, you know firsthand about racism, oppression and the importance of being a prophetic voice for justice. This gives us hope.  

I write today to say that I was heartbroken when I heard the news and discovered that the House of Bishops in General Convention, held in Salt Lake City, yet again, failed to take a stand for justice on behalf of the oppressed in Palestine. 

Although some of us would like to see Archbishop Suheil Dawani assume a stronger prophetic role, what the American bishops said and did at General Convention has a deeper ramification.  The American bishops viewed the Israeli/Palestinian conflict within the narrow parameters of our small Episcopal Church in Jerusalem led by Archbishop Dawani.  Whether intentionally or not, the American bishops failed to see the conflict as it adversely affects all Palestinians -- Christians as well as Muslims.  There are many Churches and organizations, religious and secular, from around the world, that are courageously taking a stand against the injustice which is being perpetrated by the 
Israeli government and have adopted nonviolent methods to resist it, including economic pressure. 

The Israeli government would like the American bishops to be intimidated by veiled threats against Bishop Suheil and our church’s institutions and thus silence the prophetic stance of an historic Church.  The Bishops capitulated to these threats and thus lost their focus.  They started thinking about what is going to happen to Archbishop Suheil rather than what is happening to over 4 million Palestinians who are suffering on a daily basis.  The problem is not Bishop Suheil and the Church’s institutions. They will endure with international donor support and advocacy for the Archbishop. The problem is Israel’s illegal occupation and its repeated violations of international law.  It is not about Archbishop Suheil; it is about where the American Church takes its stand vis-a-vis the oppressed, and how it understands the Church’s complicity through its unmonitored investments in companies that may be undergirding the occupation and contributing to the suffering of millions of Palestinians. We cannot talk about positive investments and then ignore our other potentially unjust investments in an illegal and even evil system of occupation.  

Additionally, the Bishops masqueraded under false arguments of “interfaith relations” or “positive investment and not divestment.” These are tantamount to what we in Palestine know un-affectionately as “The Interfaith Ecumenical Deal.”  The agreement is to have polite conversations and wonderful dinners with the U.S. Jewish establishment organizations provided we remain silent about justice for the Palestinians.  The “ecumenical deal” looks impressive from the outside but in actual fact it silences the prophetic and smothers the truth.  In the House of Bishops, interfaith concerns trumped justice----again. 

Let me be clear.  From the perspective of the victims of injustice the Bishops’ empty words on our conflict is perceived as betrayal.  The Bishops in essence took a stand to support the status quo, which always benefits the oppressor.  They refused to see or were unwilling to respond to the dire situation on the ground. 

We as Palestinians are daily humiliated by the Israeli forces; our human rights are violated daily; our homes are demolished daily by bulldozers manufactured in the United States; our olive trees are uprooted, daily; our land is confiscated and turned over into illegal settlements, daily; our young people languish in Israeli jails, daily, with no legal charges or due process for months on end; our teenagers are taken from their beds in the middle of the night and imprisoned by the Israeli army on an average of two per night; and the Israeli government continues its daily violations of international law while the Church remains silent. The Bishops had a Kairos moment to speak a prophetic word of justice and chose not to do so. I am mortified to say that the action of the Bishops is a slap in the face of our own Archbishop Tutu who has said repeatedly that Israel’s injustice against the Palestinians is worse than apartheid.

There are two questions that every Bishop needs to answer before God:  Who, in his or her opinion, has benefitted from the Bishops’ vote: the Palestinians or the Israeli government?  And whom did the Episcopal Church USA protect through its vote, the oppressed or the oppressor?

It takes strong leaders with the courage that Jesus Christ and the prophets modeled for us to champion the cause of the oppressed. Sadly that did not happen. 

  

Given the importance of this issue in the world community, and given the potential harm and despair that the Bishops action is causing Palestinians, I hope, Bishop Curry, you and other fair minded bishops will revisit this issue in your next meeting, and invite those of us who have a different perspective to engage the House of Bishops so that we might together find the right voice for the Church in these times. 

Indeed, God continues to speak and many faithful people hear God’s call and respond to it.  We are certain that the prophetic responsibility will never die and there will always be people, including Bishops, who, in faithfulness to God and in love of neighbor will strive “…to do justice, to love mercy and to walk humbly with God.”  People of faith know that the movement of history is toward justice in the world.  The words of Martin Luther King, Jr. are pertinent in this regard, “The moral arc of the universe is long, but it bends toward justice.”

I pray that through your leadership, Bishop Curry, the sun of righteousness and justice will shine again on our Episcopal Church and that your prophetic voice, joined by many of your fellow bishops, will courageously speak truth to power so that the God of love, justice and peace will be glorified.  

Faithfully yours,

Naim Ateek

President of the Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theology Board Jerusalem

Recipient of the Episcopal Peace Fellowship Nevin Sayre Peace Award, 2006

Cc: Archbishop Suheil Dawani, Jerusalem

Bethlehem University

The vibrant spirit of Bethlehem's student body was apparent as soon as we walked on campus. Small groups of students everywhere in animated conversations accompanied by regular eruptions of laughter – just the kind of place you'd want your son or daughter to attend ... or yourself.

We were met by one of the De La Salle Brothers plus Shahinda Nassar, a graduate of the University and now its Development Officer and two student "ambassadors", in our case, lovely young women, both Christian, who were informative, open, obviously very bright and motivated.

Bethlehem University was launched in 1973 as a joint venture between the Vatican and the De La Salle Christian Brothers to serve the needs of the Palestinian people. They appear to be excelling both educationally and with a student body that is a model of inclusiveness. If I recall right, the student body is 30% Christian, 70% Muslim. "With over 14,000 graduates the story of Bethlehem University is one of people dedicated to higher education, working together in hope with an ever widening international circle of colleagues and friends committed to building a better and brighter future for the people of Bethlehem."

Our student ambassadors were candid about their experience of the Occupation. Each described humiliating experiences at the check point into Jerusalem and told of their resolve not to tolerate such treatment again ... by simply refusing to return to Jerusalem, unless absolutely necessary.

Unlike other church institutions, Bethlehem University reports openly on the impact of Occupation and its resolve to continue in spite of it. "Bethlehem University continues to prosper despite twelve Israeli military imposed orders for closure, in addition to incursions, travel restrictions, military check points, and the segregation wall around Bethlehem."

An independent witness to the importance of this University: A Palestinian man who drove me and several friends from the Old City to the Bethlehem check point described his commitment to making a living to support his family - and to educate them. He drives illegally (not as a licensed cab) because, like so many Palestinians, he has been in an Israeli prison. He has three children, lives in two rooms with a kitchen, and gives his oldest daughter 30 shekels each day to travel to Bethlehem University in addition to 20 shekels to buy food and a soft drink. He drives 12 - 14 hours a day; his car will be impounded for three months if he is caught taking a fare for his service.

A final treat: Bethlehem University has a program in hotel and restaurant management which benefitted us with one of the very best meals in our three weeks in Is/Pal.

Seraj at Burham and Aida

The Aida Refugee Camp (in partnership with the Alrowwad Cultural and Theatre Training Society) and the village of Burham (in partnership with the Burham Charitable Society) are the sites for the sixth and seventh Seraj Libraries. Alrowwad's opened in 2014; Burham, just this past month. As Seraj libraries grow in the space made available by our partners, they are all different. What is common among them is an organization and leaders with vision and a readiness to enhance their world on behalf of their children.  Pictured below are images from each of these libraries.

The newly created Burham Seraj Library

Ghadeer Abulmiriam

 

Supporting members

Ghadeer Abulmiriam is the President of the Burham Charitable Society. Her cohorts told us they volunteer time and energy at the library for many reasons – to improve their own reading skills, to teach, "just to be there". What has thrilled all of them is the collaboration already developing between this little library, the local school and the village council.  She told us, “Your support reminds us that we have the power to make change.” 

Burham and the Library are hopeful of transforming the small area across the street into a village park.

Seraj at Alrowwad has a very modern feel to it. It's bright, colorful, beautifully designed and, to everyone's delight, getting used heavily. Alrowwad's director, Abdelfatah Abusrour, has described its program as Beautiful Resistance. Instead of giving in to violence to express their opposition to oppression, Alrowwad teaches its young people to develop their talents, to shape their future, to become the beautiful human beings they are.

Abdulfattah Abusrour 

Seraj at Aida

Seraj at Aida

Israeli Military "Justice"

Many of you already know of the Military Court Watch and Defense of Children International Palestine. If you don't, by all means learn from their web sites. Both have given generously of their time this week to let me see first hand the relentless injustice and punishment routinely handed out to Palestinians and, particularly, to Palestinian children. DCI took me to tour the former secret Israeli military prison at Al-Fara, notorious for the torture administered to thousands of Palestinians between 1982 and the Oslo Accords in 1993. Gerard Horton and Salwa Duaibis with MCW took me and two friends to the the military courts at the Ofer prison where Palestinian children and young people are tried and sentenced for a variety of offenses. With advance permission we were allowed to observe several cases. Let me tell you about two.

Throwing Stones   Whether he did or did not throw stones (he said he did not), this 14 year old boy's case was heard with an Israeli prosecutor and Druze defense lawyer. The military judge had a pleasant and kindly-appearing face. The family had assented to our presence as observers, and we were each asked by the judge to give our name. Cotton and Fite were something of a novelty for them. As "civil" as it all appeared, this 14 year old received a one year suspended sentence which will continue for five years plus a fine of 400 shekels. What this sentence means is that if this lad is ever "detained" in the next five years he will be imprisoned for one year plus whatever punishment is meted out for the next "offense". This means that if he goes to the store for bread, and if some IDF soldiers are about, and if someone throws a stone, all the kids will run. If he collared, it will be his word against the soldiers. He will begin serving his sentence. Israeli military mission accomplished – 14 year old and family will live in fear for five years.

Searching for a Job   Nothing illegal about searching for a job – unless it involves entering Jerusalem without a permit. This young man was 19 years old. He sought work in Jerusalem to help support himself and his father who is unemployed and diabetic. Much the same as the first case. Only this time the Israeli assigned as translator was having a hard time staying awake. The young man was convicted and could be released on bail for 4,000 shekels ($1,000) AND two Israeli guarantors who would each put up 5,000 shekels. This for a young man and his family who are poor and haven't a chance in hell of coming up with 4000 shekels.

What stood out for me with just this short exposure was how "normal", how routine it all is. Initially, it has the look of justice – the accused has a lawyer to defend him; there is standard court room procedure. But it is no such thing. It is the means by which Israel keeps the West Bank Palestinian population in submission and under total control.

A final word   At a meta level, this massive injustice, gross violation of the Hague Regulations and the Fourth Geneva Convention by Israel is one thing. It is infuriating and shameful that the US/we do nothing substantial to address it. At another level, looking in the faces of Palestinian mothers and fathers who have spent hours getting here is inescapably sad. Some appear desperate; some, fearful; some, impassive. All want their children released; and all but a very few will be disappointed.

With the Art Bus in Hebron

So many happy children! Busy selecting colorful beads from trays, scrambling on the floor of the bus for a few they dropped, stringing them on a plastic cord to make their bracelet, holding them up for the admiration of their teacher.

Many have ambitious visions. Not so many realize their vision. Khitam Edelbi is one, and Palestinian children are the beneficiary. It's taken years of work, but a combination of passion and perseverance, and the loyal support of friend Al Miller, have created the Art Bus.

The idea is simple. To bring joy and fun to young Palestinian children growing up in a time and a place made difficult by the Israeli occupation. To see how the Art Bus works, just click on the link. Pretty cool, huh?

Last Thursday, Khitam and Al picked me up in East Jerusalem and we headed for Hebron where the Bus was currently doing its magic. I assumed Khitam had to be there for the show to begin, but I learned on the way down that she has trained about 60 teachers and volunteers how to use the Art Bus for a range of children and circumstances. Brilliant!

When we arrived, the action had already begun, so we climbed on board to see how it works. The kids were eager but well-disciplined to wait their turn. Lots of happy faces.

Getting ready

Getting instructions

Getting to work

The Art Bus team

On the Other Hand ...

As suggested in my lament (Relentless), it feels like injustice is winning over here. Not just "feels like", it is winning. On the other hand, in the long run (I hope not too long) injustice doesn't stand a chance. For many reasons. The myriad of people here and around the world relentlessly acting for justice is one. What I consider the self-defeating nature of Israeli policy is another. Most of all, though, it is because of the remarkable steadfastness of the Palestinian people that this injustice will end.

I ask many Palestinian friends, merchants – anyone willing to talk: "where do you find hope". The answer from most goes something like this: Yes, it is terrible, and so long as the U.S. is in Israel's corner, we do not see it ending. But we are not leaving. It is as simple as that – we are not leaving. So we live our lives as best we can. We work; we feed our families; we educate our children. We are a generous, hospitable people who care for our elderly parents as they cared for us. This is how many of us resist this ghastly Occupation.

With John and Joyce Cassel and Ayed, our generous guide from DCI (Defense of Children International), we visited the old Israeli prison at Al-Fara (above Nablus, maybe 10 km. from Zababeh). The structure was built by the Brits during the Mandate as a stable for their horses, was transferred at some point to the Jordanians, and fell into the hands of the Israeli military after '67. From 1982 through Oslo Al-Fara became a secret Israeli military prison where thousands of Palestinians, were tortured. We were led through the prison by two men, Nidal and Raed, both of whom had been prisoners there, Raed five different times for a total of 2 1/2 years. Treatment of Palestinians, young and old, at Al-Fara was unspeakable. At every step the process was intended to break their spirit, to crush any and all resistance until they "cooperated". With 6 - 8 persons in a space built as a stall for a horse, what kept them sane at times was the call to prayer issued from the near-by refugee camp 5 times a day.

There is much more to say about Al-Fara, but what is most relevant here are the faces of these two men. Their humanity was not crushed by their experience. It shows in their faces. They do not hate Jews. They can and will live with them as neighbors when their human rights, civil rights are restored. When what has been taken from them is returned.

Nidal & Raed

Nidal

Nidal

Raed

Raed

At Oslo Al-Fara was designated within Area A which meant it was under Palestinian control. Yasser Arafat turned this prison and the area around it into a sports center for children and young people throughout Palestine. And so it is today. Raed is employed to manage the facilities. Nidal never went to college, but the day following our visit his oldest son, Furat, was graduating from college as a nurse. His other children, five I think, came to introduce themselves most politely as they served us Arabic coffee at his home. Nidal is a guide for international groups on walking tours of Palestine.

It's because of these – and so many others on "the other hand" that justice and peace will finally prevail.

Furat – BA, Nursing

Relentless

There may be better words to describe Israel's campaign to rid Jerusalem of Palestinians, to colonize the West Bank, to establish a Jewish state from the Jordan to the Mediterranean, from Lebanon to Egypt – but relentless will do for now. Throughout its history Jews and Jewish Israelis have challenged this policy, slowed it at times, but it has survived from before 1948 to the present day in one form or another. And today, it is robust as well as relentless.

I wish I could say otherwise. But in this my ninth trip to Israel/Palestine, no one I talk with denies it. Most agree that Israel is succeeding ... perhaps to its own demise, but by any measure, its multiple strategies/tactics are working.

Let me give you small examples.

Making life uncomfortable/impossible enough that Palestinians give up and leave is a strategy with multiple tactics.

• Rulla, a senior staff member at the National YWCA of Palestine is Palestinian as is her husband. But he is an Israeli citizen (his family lived within the 1948 borders) as are her two children. Rulla may never travel with her husband and children.
• With his brother Naser, Hussama is the owner of the National Hotel where I stay. The hotel is profitable and Hussama gives generously to many humanitarian projects, among them is one in Gaza. Some time ago the Israeli police asrrested Hussama citing a long list of "suspicious" charities for which he is a benefactor. Ironically, he said, they failed to include the Israeli hospital to which he gives for the care of children, Israeli and Palestinian. Husamma protested his arrest, citing American citizenship and showing his American passport. The police, who obviously had not done their homework, took the passport, threw it on the floor with the words, "Go back to America".
•  Hussama mentioned to me on Tuesday that his cousin had just received a demolition order for the home he built in 1994. It will be demolished because he built it without a building permit, a permit that is rarely, if ever, granted a Palestinian in Jerusalem. 
• Many of you know of Daoud Nassar, a Palestinian Christian farmer and creator of Tent of Nations, an international demonstration of non-violent struggle on land owned by his family for generations and registered as such during the Ottoman Empire. Israel has sought every means possible to confiscate his land for over 30 years. Israeli territorial authorities have now demanded that Daoud (and other area farmers) re-register their farms. The next step will be for aerial surveys to be examined to determine if any of the ancestral holdings should be classified as "State/Public Land" instead of personal property.  

For any who care to look or listen (clearly not members of the US Congress), there are sooooooo many more examples of harassment that can have only one purpose. To rid this land of an indigenous people.

At the end of the day there are always examples that contain at least a shred of humor.

A block from my hotel is the most wonderful bookstore in the world – with surely the most wonderful cakes, sandwiches and caffe latte in the world. It's called the Educational Bookshop. It's on Salah al-Din Street in East Jerusalem.

Educational Bookshop

First, you have to know Mordechai Vanunu. He's the former Israeli nuclear technician who, citing opposition to WMD, revealed Israel's nuclear weapons program to British press in 1986 for which, when Mossad caught him, he spent 18 years in prison, 11 in solitary. Released in 2004, he was subject to an array of restrictions on speech and movement. He's been rearrested several times, but when he's not in detention, he is often sited at a table outside the bookshop. Yesterday, Mordechai was at his usual table when a tall Norwegian came out of the bookshop, and chatted for a few minutes with him. Suddenly "many" Israeli police converged on the bookshop, would let no one enter or leave, and took Vanunu and tall Norwegian away for interrogation. The Norwegian tried in vain to give the bookshop manager the keys to his car which would soon be parked illegally across the street. No deal; police took his keys. The Bookshop owner called the Norwegian consulate and the tall Norwegian returned for his car fours later.

Mordechai is a quite affable man, hardly much of a threat to Israel. But then it is still a secret – so don't tell anyone. Israel ... has ... a ... stockpile ... of ... nuclear ... weapons. 

It Just Takes One

It just takes one to save the world. Well, more than one actually; but it takes one to get it started. Nasser Hamamreh is a school counselor at a poor boys school (Husne al Ashab) in a poor Palestinian town (Al-Ram) just outside the "security wall" built sometime after 2006 to remove it from Jerusalem and devastate its economy.

And he's one.

Khitam Edelbi, a Palestinian expressive art therapist and teacher, noticed Nasser's ambition to save poor Palestinian kids from destroying themselves a long time ago and was helping when she could. She introduced her pal, Al Miller, once a teacher in the Middle East, now theatre founder, director and professional clown in Brunswick, ME, to Nasser. Team Nasser taking shape.

Nasser knows personally what living under occupation can do to a kid. He was convinced theatre could grab these guys interest, give them a voice, increase their confidence, quicken their creativity, develop their talent. So with few or no resources he got started. I first met Nasser in the fall of 2013 when Al was training school counselors Nasser gathered to learn how to use theatre exercises with kids in their schools. It was enormous fun and the women took to it with abandon.

Nasser Hamamreh

Nasser with Al Miller

Getting started

Palestinian school counselors being trees ... or something

Al makes it all great fun

Training day in Al-Ram, fall 2013

Nasser telling his story

By sheer luck and various Palestinians kindly looking out for me, I found my way on Monday to Al-Ram and Husne al Shab school. Bus to Qalandia check point (Israelis let you leave Israel with no sweat; it's when you come back in that a hassle is probable), taxi from the West Bank side of Qalandia to the school. A very cool driver who spoke perfect English, gently corrected my miserable attempt at Arabic and, in discussion about "conditions" here pointed out that the Israeli Congress now only meets in Washington, DC.

When I got to the school and walked though the soccer "field" 10 high school students surrounded and escorted me to the correct entrance. "What's your name? Where are you from? My name is ......"

Nasser greeted me warmly and introduced me to Hussam abu Esheh, an actor, director, teacher, Palestinian TV personality (Hussam is a whole other story!). Al appeared shortly thereafter. So we got started. Since 2013 Nasser had scraped together financial support from various sources to create a surprisingly well outfitted theatre. Hussam had been working with the boys and this was to be another rehearsal. What a treat! The kids could not have been more eager, engaged, confident, creative. Hussam was a demanding director and the kids performed like pros.

Hussam abu Esheh

Getting directions

Looks like they just got hit with tear gas ... a not unusal occurrence

Time to ham it up

When Hussam's rehearsal was finished, Al did some more work with the kids, and they loved it all. I rode back on the bus to Jerusalem with Hussam and then, with Al and Khitam attended the Palestinian National Theatre where Hussam and others were performing a French play. A busy man.

Like I said, it just take one to save the world. Then, of course, the rest of us have to pay attention, to "get" it and to do "it". But we have to look for that "one" in out-of-the-way, unlikely places. Like Al-Ram. Like Nazareth. Like lots of other places.

Good reason to hope.

An Afternoon with Jeff Halper

Jeff Halper

Jeff Halper, Director of ICAHD, the Israeli Committee Against Housing Demolitions, probably understands better than anyone in the resistance movement Israel's strategy to remove Palestinians from their homeland and to claim it for their own. No one ever said Israelis weren't smart.

To spend an afternoon with Jeff with a group of colleagues from the Episcopal Peace Fellowship's Palestine Israeli Network (PIN), is, to say the least, informative. Jeff reminded us

We viewed Jerusalem from multiple vantage points. Several provided panoramic views of this remarkable city which reminded us of its inherent beauty and fascinating history.

In the middle you see the Old City with the Dome of the Rock and the Al-Aqsa Mosque just to its right. Until the early part of the 18th century it was primarily this walled city that constituted Jerusalem. The high rise buildings in the background represent the growth of Jewish West Jerusalem. The land falls off to the right of the walled city into the Kidron Valley, Gethsemanae and (not in this picture) up the Mount of Olives. Silwan, a Palestinian neighborhood, occupies the land in the foreground.

No sharper contrast exists than back to back visits to Silwan and the massive Ma'ale Adumim settlement (referred to now only as a pleasant Israeli suburb of 40,000) built on confiscated Palestinian land. Silwan lies in the path of an Israeli project called The City of David and thus the focus of a variety of strategies to remove Palestinian homes. In the picture below, look to the upper right quadrant for a new four story building with parallel vertical windows – the result of an eviction, a demolition and the sale of the land to a Jewish Israeli contractor.

Silwan

Ma'ale Adumim is an entirely different story. In contrast to many Palestinian neighborhoods where sidewalks don't exist, streets are in disrepair, playgrounds are non-existent, water is often rationed during summer months, garbage is not collected, Ma'ale Adumim is where I would like to live. It is beautifully landscaped, features 1,000 year old olive trees dug up from Palestinian lands and replanted here, water is plentiful; has playgrounds, two olympic size swimming pools, bus stops, well cared for roads, handsome homes.

And no one seems to notice.

And here's the kicker. Palestinian Israelis amount to 37% of Jerusalem's population; they pay 50% of the taxes; and they receive 8% of the services.

And no one seems to notice.

Ma'ale Adumim