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Challenges of United Jerusalem

The Jerusalem Institute for Strategic Studies hosted its first ever conference at the Menachem Begin Heritage Center on Monday. The conference, titled "Challenges of United Jerusalem," served as the launch of the new conservative security think tank. Among those in attendance were Jerusalem Affairs and Heritage Minister Zeev Elkin, Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat and Jerusalem District Police Commander Maj. Gen. Yoram Halevy. The institute is headed by Maj. Gen. (ret.) Yaakov Amidror, Professor Efraim Inbar, Dr. Eran Lerman and David Weinberg.

According to the JISS website, "Among the principles underlying the institute’s activity are the Jewish people’s historic connection to the land of Israel as a central component of strategic worldview; the salience of security in diplomatic agreements; rejection of unilateral Israeli moves that strengthen adversaries; the importance of strategic cooperation with like-minded allies; the imperative of Israel being able to defend itself by itself in all eventualities; and, critically, the importance of united Jerusalem to Israel’s security and destiny."

Australian philanthropist Greg Rosshandler, who made the initial donation to establish the think tank, told Israel Hayom, "There are some great people here." Rosshandler emphasized the importance of committing to Israel's security. He called the institute "realistic and practical" and said its aim was to provide advice to the government and the military.

Elkin said, "Anyone who looks at the map of Jerusalem understands that the demographic and topographic reality of the city makes its partition an impossible task. As long as we don't solve the natural growth, which stems from migration from the Palestinian Authority into those neighborhoods, the Jewish majority in Jerusalem will be in danger. Therefore the solution is the establishment of municipal authorities under Israeli sovereignty."

Yori Yalon