"Palestinian"? "Jordanian"? "Ottoman"? or "Israeli"?

This snippet is from the Israel Policy Forum, close to Obama, formerly close to Ehud Olmert (his "we are tired" speech was made to them):

The Shepherd Hotel sits in Sheikh Jarrah, a predominantly Palestinian neighborhood that also contains foreign consulates, such as the British embassy, and Israeli government buildings.

Irving Moskowitz, a Miami-based millionaire who has supported numerous Jewish building projects in East Jerusalem, purchased the Shepherd Hotel in 1985. From 1987 to 2002, Moskowitz rented the building out to Israel’s border police until Israel granted him permission to construct a housing development.

Moskowitz’s goal is not to construct housing for its own sake, but rather to change the facts on the ground and ensure Israeli control of a neighborhood that is overwhelmingly Palestinian. The Palestinians understand Moskowitz’s intentions and voiced their protest to the United States. Their fear is that they will lose yet another East Jerusalem neighborhood to Israeli settlers.

"Palestinian"?

And during 1948-1967, it was...Jordanian?

And during 1918-1948, it was...Palestinian?

And during 1516-1918, it was...Ottoman?

Or perhaps, just plain Arab?

Because, if not, shouldn't we say that it is "Israeli" between 1967-2009?

Why does it change under other rulers but not when Israel rules the city?

Yonatan Razel At The Moskowitz Zionism Prize Ceremony

Two Pics From the Moskowitz Zionism Prize Ceremony

A general overview of the performance of Udi Davidi after the main ceremony:

My wife and awardee, Ronit Shuker:

(photo credits: Y.Medad)

A Prize for Zionism

I first met Cherna and Dr. Irving Moskowitz almost a quarter of a century ago when I accompanied Daniella Weiss and Tzvika Slonim on a trip to the United States on behalf of Gush Emunim. Their house in Florida was quite unique in that it was the longest house I had ever been in, excluding the Versailles Palace I visited in 1976. With 8 children, k'ein ahora (that's a Yiddish expression, not Spanish), they had purchased two adjacent lots and simply connected the two homes. Later, I was privileged to meet them many times in the Knesset and other places having worked with Geula Cohen and Techiya.

As I am a Hasbara person, that is, I explain but I don't build and contruct (although the Temple is indeed always on my mind), I did not develop a working relationship with them but always enjoyed the fruits of their generosity, one way or another (their Foundation has given, by now, some $85 million to charitable endeavors). Without exaggeration, the Moskowitz's are the preeminent builders in the private sector of the Land of Israel since the Rothschilds and Moshe Montefiore.

Last night, my wife and I attended the Moscowitz Zionism Prize ceremony at Ir David and enjoyed a wonderful performance by Shlomo Gronich, in addition to clapping heartily for Ron Pecker, Moshe Moshkowitz and Rabbi David Fendel (his uncle, Zechariah, was my high school rebbe at Chofetz Chaim way back when). Several hundreds of people came and I got to greet many old friends.

Here's Shlomo Gronich on stage:




And, of course, without a whining left-wing antizionist demo, we just can't get along here in Israel, so here's Rabbi Arik Ackerman and friends:



And again Gronich who really shook up the crowd with exciting musical sounds to Biblical texts:-



And I hope that this clip works (first time I'm uploading a video) to give you a taste of the sounds

I wish the Moskowitzs long and healthy lives for their family's sake, for the sake of the Jewish People and the Land of Israel.

They get a very special prize.

============

My wife's blog post.