Jerusalem Ex - Mayor Urges Arab Control of Some Areas
Israel must give the Palestinians control over parts of the city, including Muslim holy sites, to help bring peace to the Middle East, former Jerusalem Mayor Teddy Kollek said Thursday.

Kollek, who governed for 27 years, weighed in on the volatile issue of the city's status a day after Israel said it had arrested four East Jerusalem Arabs accused of mounting attacks that killed 35 people, including five Americans.

Israel captured East Jerusalem in the 1967 Middle East War and annexed it in a move not recognized internationally. Palestinians want the eastern part of the city for the capital of a future state, while Israelis consider Jerusalem their united capital.

Kollek, 91, who worked for reconciliation between Jews and Arabs during his tenure that ended in 1993, said Israelis would have to make concessions on Jerusalem if it wanted peace.

``I think that we have to reach a deal. As part of the arrangement, something must be given to them (the Arabs),'' the former politician told Israel's Army Radio.

``We will not achieve calm without giving them some of what they want to have control over of, viewing it as Arab land,'' he added.
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