Abu Dis
ABU DIS
Name of a suburban neighborhood (village) of East Jerusalem, mentioned frequently between 1995 and 1996 during the negotiations between Palestinians and Israelis. The latter, firmly opposed to Jerusalem becoming the capital of an eventual Palestine State, suggested the city of Abu Dis as a solution. Subsequently, during the course of the intense negotiation that followed, the name of Abu Dis was mentioned regularly, but only to be immediately rejected by most Palestinians. On 9 April 2000, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak announced his government's intentions to annex Jewish neighborhoods in the eastern periphery of Jerusalem in exchange for the transfer of the administration of the localities of Anata and Abu Dis to the Palestinians. A few days later, facing Israeli opposition and the threat of resignation of the SHAS members in his government opposed to such a transfer, Barak rescinded his decision. On 15 May, by a margin of 58 votes for and 48 against, the Knesset approved the transfer to Palestinians of three localities close to Jerusalem, including Abu Dis.
SEE ALSO Barak, Ehud;Knesset;SHAS.