Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, September 5, 1995 TAG: 9509060126
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Knight-Ridder/Tribune
DATELINE: JERUSALEM LENGTH: Medium
Israel kicked off a 15-month gala Monday to mark 3,000 years since King David conquered Jerusalem and established Jewish rule.
But as officials unveiled an expansive archaeological dig for the original City of David and as thousands watched fireworks explode over the Valley of the Cross, dissenters were everywhere.
The European Union said it wouldn't participate in ``Jerusalem 3000'' events because it was being hailed as a celebration of a ``united'' capital of Israel - an issue to be resolved in upcoming Israeli-Palestinian negotiations.
Palestinian leaders called for a boycott of the events, saying Israelis were using the $7 million party to bolster continued Jewish rule of the entire city, including Arab East Jerusalem.
Even the ultra-Orthodox joined the fray, saying the supposed date of David's conquest (1004 B.C.) is wrong - maybe by hundreds of years. Most scholars date the conquest at between 1004 B.C. and 1010 B.C.
``Why is it so difficult for us to celebrate a historical date?'' asked Lia van Leer, founder of the Jerusalem Film Festival.
Perhaps, suggested historian Meron Benvinisti, the problem is with the guest list.
``We're having a party for ourselves,'' Benvinisti said on Israel Radio. ``The problem is, we've tried to turn it into a celebration for the whole world, and that, of course, is a mistake.''
The Europeans, in particular, took offense to a glossy brochure in which Jerusalem Mayor Ehud Olmert welcomes festival-goers with a letter that calls Jerusalem ``the eternal, united capital of the sovereign State of Israel.''
In early August, someone sent a copy of the letter to EU officials on the Internet. The EU then announced its pullout of financial support because ``we do not recognize the [1967 Israeli] annexation of East Jerusalem,'' said Arancha Banon, first secretary of the Spanish Embassy in Tel Aviv.
``We are not party poopers,'' Banon said Monday. ``We only intend to be consistent with our policy.''
The Palestinian claim of political motives behind the festival appeared to be confirmed Monday in published remarks by former Mayor Teddy Kollek, who first had the idea of a 3,000th-year celebration.
``I thought this would first and foremost strengthen our position in the political debate,'' Kollek told the Haaretz newspaper. ``I wanted the whole world to become acquainted with Jerusalem as an Israeli city. I thought that this would arouse a feeling of support for Jerusalem as our capital.''
Kollek, however, said in an interview Monday with The Herald that Olmert, if anyone, should be blamed for ``politicizing'' the event.
``I never said the `eternal capital of Israel.' All these expressions only bring a reaction by the other side that is harmful to the city.''
Olmert, for his part, stressed that he wanted to include people from all religions in the party.
``It is true, and I'm not hiding this, that the main entity will recall the Jewish history,'' the mayor said at a news conference. ``Part of this is because the Muslim community here didn't cooperate in the activities for obvious political reasons. We will definitely try in these 15 months to involve as many residents as we can.''
Later this week, the German State Opera will perform Beethoven's ``Fidelio,'' followed by King David's Feast, a 12-course banquet prepared by 15 world-renowned chefs; an exhibition inside the Tower of David Museum; and an open-air concert by a 1,000-member choir from the Netherlands.
There's even a celebration of gospel music, including recording artists Larnelle Harris, Twila Paris and the Brooklyn Tabernacle Singers. Some ultra-Orthodox Jews are complaining of too many Christian programs.
by CNB