While most of Israel and the Jewish world focuses on whether Prime Minister Netanyahu will or will not extend Israel’s sovereignty over much of Judea and Samaria, a quiet battle is still continuing on the frontlines within the nation’s capital in Jerusalem.

The “Peace to Prosperity” plan calls for Shuafat to be a hub for the new “Palestinian” State in Jerusalem. Other areas of the capital are directly handed over to the “Palestinian” Arabs.

Many activists have been pointing this out. The argument is simple – if the unity of Jerusalem is broken in any way, it will be far easier to chip a way at the rest. It is true that the chances of the “Palestinian” Arabs accepting the plan is virtually nil, but that doesn’t matter. What is clear is that any tacit agreement to change the boundaries of municipal Jerusalem to where it gets shared with a foreign entity in any way, breaks the control on the rest.

What Can Be Done?

Kidmat Tzion, which lies on the furthest southeastern municipal boundary of the city, effectively buttressing the security barrier shows how a few Jewish families can break potential “Palestinian” contiguity.

Across the security barrier from Kidmat Tzion is Abu Dis, and the now defunct “Palestinian” Parliament building, which Arafat was intended to occupy. Furthermore, “Palestinian” control was supposed to extend from there all the way to the Old City. Kidman Tzion ended that plan.

Built on 30% of the original track of land that Jews within the Old City in the early 1900s had bought, it laid empty for many years, begging for someone to build on it. Although there are between 200 and 300 units expected to be built on the land, the few houses and events’ hall that have been built there have achieved as much as any fully built neighborhood.

Kidmat Tzion is an example of the merger of historic connection and strategic necessity, which should serve as a repeatable strategy in the rest of the city.

It is true, that this takes planning, but with the current plan from the Trump administration on the table, it is time to ensure Jerusalem remains undivided and under Israeli sovereignty for good.