JERUSALEM

The major players in the on going peace initiative between the leadership of Israel and the Palestinians will not move ahead unless the issue of Jerusalem is resolved. What is needed, is the recognition by the international community that Jerusalem is the historical and undivided capitol of Israel. If this is done, it can advance the peace process in the region. If the international community were to move its embassies to Jerusalem this could be a major breakthrough for peace. The Palestinians want all of Jerusalem as their capitol not just East Jerusalem. If the international community were to relocate their embassies to Jerusalem, and recognize Jerusalem as the historical capitol of Israel, this could very well defuse some of the hostilities between these two groups. This move would force the Palestinians to move away from claiming Jerusalem as their future capitol, and lead to an end of hostilities. Historically, Jerusalem was never a capitol of any nation only Israel. It is also important to understand, that Jerusalem was never an imperial Islamic capitol like: Istanbul, Medina, Damascus, Baghdad or Cairo. The notion that Palestinians are demanding Jerusalem as their capitol, which historically, they cannot claim as their own, proves the point that they want to delegitimize Israel’s historical connection to the Holy City.

One entity that can play a pivotal roll is Rome. Eastern Jerusalem is divided into four historical sections. These neighborhoods are: Armenian, Christian, Arab and Jewish neighborhoods. The PLO does not speak for Armenian, Christian and the Jewish community and not for all of the Arab quarter. To suggest that the Palestinians want Eastern Jerusalem as a future capitol and divide the city with out consulting the other religious and people groups carries no weight. This is something that is not heard in the media. Who speaks for the three quarters of the population in Eastern Jerusalem who are not Muslims? The Vatican with its influence can at least speak for the Armenian and Christian quarter in a general sense, if these two groups approve of it. The Jewish quarter can speak for itself and so can the Muslim quarter. Another point, that is circling around is the concept of sharing the same capitol. One capitol shared by both nations. Why should Israel share its capitol with another nation that seeks to destroy her? Why should Israel share her capitol at all? Would a man share his wife with another man?

The ancient Hebrew prophet Nehemiah said this to Israel’s enemies, “I answered them by saying, The God of heaven will give us success. We his servants will start rebuilding, but as for you, you have no share in Jerusalem or any claim or historic right to it." 1 Given the sensitive nature on both sides of the spectrum, we need to look only at history to see that Israel not the Palestinians have a legitimate legal claim to the Holy City. The United States can facilitate this process by enacting the Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995 and move its embassy to Jerusalem. If the president of the United States would move ahead on this, it would create an enormous amount of creditability to his leadership and his standing at home and in the world. Jerusalem is the key to peace in the region. Palestinians must abandon Jerusalem as their potential capitol and live with the fact that the historical ties to the city favors Israel not Palestinians or any other nation or religious group.

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1 Nehemiah 2:20 (NIV)