Riyan began the interview with a question that is self evident: "Mr. Mordechai, is this decision case of knocking more nails in the Israel-Arab negotiations coffin?" He didn't expect the Israeli expert to answer.

"The truth is that I don't understand this," said Keidar. "Must Israel get permission from anyone in the world? This is our capitol for 3,000 years. We were there while your forefathers drank wine, buried their daughters alive, and worshipped idols. (He was referring to the pre-Islamic era- R.N.) If so, what is there to talk about? It is our city for the past 3,000 years, and for eternity."

Riyan was stunned, but didn't relent: "Excuse me Mr. Mordechai! If you wish to speak about history, then we will also speak about the Koran. You can't deny that Yerushalayim is mentioned in the Koran. I ask you to refrain from using phrases which insult Moslems and Arabs. Please let us stick to the topic."

Keidar: "Yerushalayim is not mentioned in the Koran."

Riyan was steaming, and quoted the beginning of a sentence from the Koran, which, according to the Muslims, refers to Yerushalayim.

Keidar continued to insist that, "Yerushalayim does not appear in the Koran even once, and Yerushalayim belongs to the Jews, period!"

Riyan: "Let's talk about politics, please. Doesn't this decision negate the road maps which state that Israel will stop building in the settlements?"

Keidar: "The road maps have nothing to do with Yerushalayim. Yerushalayim isn't included in the negotiations. Yerushalayim is Jewish! Period! We will not allow any talk about Yerushalayim, in any fashion. You keep bringing this up, time and again, but, my friend, Yerushalayim isn't mentioned in the road maps. Go read it, and you'll see."

Riyan tries to get back his cool and attack from a different angle. "At this rate, Yerushalayim will include the West Bank, right?"

Keidar: "My friend, Israel isn't involved in building apartments in Qatar on the Qatar Island. What do you want from Yerushalayim? Yerushalayim is our eternal city and no one, not from Al-Jazeera and not from anywhere else has any interest in Yerushalayim. Yerushalayim is a Jewish city exclusively, and nobody else has any connection to Yerushalayim."