Should Jerusalem be the shared capital of Israel & the Palestinians?

JERUSALEM

The eternal Undivided Capital of Israel

Ever since King David made Jerusalem the capital of Israel over 3,000 years ago, the city has played a central role in Jewish existence. The Western Wall in the Old City, the last remaining wall of the ancient Jewish Temple, the holiest site in Judaism, is the object of Jewish veneration and the focus of Jewish prayer.

Jerusalem is a Jewish City

Jews have lived in Jerusalem for 3,000 continuously.

Jews consist of the majority of Jerusalem in the present state of Israel constituting over 530,000 of the city's 758,000 population.

Jews have been the largest group of inhabitants since the 1840s.

Jerusalem has never been the capital of any Arab entity. It has never even been a provincial capital of under Muslim rule. It has never been a center of Muslim learning. Jerusalem has never been a cultural center of Islam.

Jerusalem is pivotal to the Jews historically, culturally and spiritually. The attachment of Jews and Jerusalem is unmatched with any other nation and a holy city.

"No other city has played such a dominant role in the history, culture, religion and consciousness of a people as has Jerusalem in the life of Jewry and Judaism. Throughout centuries of exile, Jerusalem remained alive in the hearts of Jews everywhere as the focal point of Jewish history, the symbol of ancient glory, spiritual fulfillment and modern renewal. This heart and soul of the Jewish people engenders the thought that if you want one simple word to symbolize all of Jewish history, that word would be 'Jerusalem.'" - Teddy Kollek, Jerusalem Washington Institute For Near East Policy.

Jewish Claims to Jerusalem

Jerusalem is the cradle of Jewish heritage and Jewish civilization. Ever since King David made Jerusalem the capital of Israel 3,000 years ago, the city has been at the center of Jewish existence. The last remaining wall of the Jewish Temple is the Western wall is in the old city of Jerusalem. The Western Wall and the city of Jerusalem itself is the most holy places of Judaism. Jerusalem is the focus of Jewish prayer. Three times a day Jews across the world face Jerusalem. For thousands of years Jews have prayed "To Jerusalem, thy city, shall we return with joy". For thousands of years Jews have concluded festivities with the words "next year… in Jerusalem."

The Jewish connection to the Temple Mount dates back for more than 3,000 years. It is the site where Abraham tied his son to an alter as a sacrifice to G-d. It is the site of two Jewish temples that were the center of Jewish religious life, learning, and social life until the destruction of the Second Temple by the Romans. The Mosques on the Temple Mount were built over 7 hundred years later after the Muslim occupation of the land.

The fact that Jerusalem is disputed, or that it is claimed by others does not mean that the city belongs to them.

Jerusalem and the State of Israel

Jerusalem as a Jewish city should be ruled by the Jewish state. The Jewish claims for the city of Jerusalem are the same as the Israeli claims.

"You ought to let the Jews have Jerusalem; it was they who made it famous." - Winston Churchill to diplomat Evelyn Shuckburgh, 1955.

Jerusalem has only seen prosperity, greatness, and success when ruled by Jews both in biblical times and again in modern day Israel.

Jerusalem is the capital of the state of Israel. Jerusalem was the capital of biblical Israel. Never has so much freedom and accessibility been granted to members of all faiths to Jerusalem's holy shrines, freedom of worship, and general toleration, than under the sovereignty of Israel.

Resolution 242 calls for "withdrawal of territories occupied in recent hostilities". However, this does not relate to Jerusalem. One of the drafter of the resolution Arthur Goldberg stated that, "Resolution 242 in no way refers to Jerusalem and its omission was deliberate". Resolution 242 refers to the Golan Heights, Sinai (given back to Egypt), the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

East Jerusalem was acquired after the 1967 war. A war initiated by hostile Arab countries. As a consequence for hostile acts of aggression Israel has full right to territories acquired in a defensive war, and therefore Jerusalem.

"The basis of our position remains that Jerusalem must never again be a divided city. We did not approve of the status quo before 1967; in no way do we advocate a return to it now ." - President George Bush

Why Jerusalem belongs to Jews not Muslims.

Jerusalem is mentioned over 700 times in the Jewish Bible. It is not mentioned even once in the Koran.

Islamic history does not illustrate Jerusalem as a city of veneration. To the contrary, Jerusalem is celebrated and revered to Jewish people across the world.

Jerusalem the city is not holy for Muslims. It is the Dome of the Rock shrine that is holy to Islam. For Jews, the whole city is holy.

"For Christians and Moslems, the term 'Holy Sites' is an adequate expression of what matters. Here [in Jerusalem] are sacred places hallowed by most holy events... But Judaism... is not tied to sites, but to the land; not to what happened in Jerusalem, but to Jerusalem itself" - Bishop Prof. Krister Stendahl, Harvard Divinity Bulletin, Autumn 1967

Some Islamic scholars have preached that Jerusalem is not holy to Jews but the Koran describes King Solomon's construction of the First Temple (34:13) and recounts the destruction of the First and Second Temples (17:7).

As the holiest city of Judaism Jewish prayer is directed to Jerusalem. Muslim prayer is directed to the holiest city of Islam, Mecca.

Muslims view Jerusalem as the location of their third most holy site. For Jews Jerusalem is the most holy.

False Muslim Claims to Jerusalem

Muslims believe that the Temple Mount, situated in Jerusalem is the sight where the Prophet Mohammad ascended to heaven in his night journey as told in the Islmic holy book, the Koran.

The Koran does not use the name "Jerusalem". The Koran states that during his night journey he was taken to the "furthest Mosque. Early Islamic scholars believed that to be Medina and not Jerusalem.

Mohammed died in the year 632CE. The Dome of the Rock was built in 711 CE three generations later. No mosque stood at that location before. During the time of Mohammed Jerusalem was occupied by the Byzantines who were Christian. A church stood at the Temple Mount during the time of Mohammed not a mosque.

It is doubtful that Mohammed ascended to heaven via a church. The Muslim claim to Jerusalem is both historically and conceptually inaccurate.

The only time when Jews did not reside in East Jerusalem and was inhabited solely by Arabs was between 1948 and 1967 when Jordan occupied the city. The Jordanians prhibbted Jews to reside or even visit East Jerusalem.

Jerusalem Under Arab Occupation.

Under Jordanian occupation Jewish residents were forced to leave their homes in East Jerusalem. Freedom of worship was not granted to Jews, and Christian pilgrims were subjected to heavy restrictions. The population of Christians reduced from 25,000 in 1949 to 13,000 in 1967. This was a result of Jordan's repressive measures.

Under Jordanian occupation Jerusalem was neglected. The Jewish Quarter of the Old City was ransacked and slums surrounded the Western Wall. Basic day-to-day necessities were neglected; water, plumbing, and electricity were lacking.

The Jordanian government allowed Jewish graves to be destroyed in the Mount of Olives by allowing a highway to be built that crosses the site.

Jerusalem and Internationalisation.

Jerusalem can not be made an international city as the UN General Assembly has suggested. There is no precedent for this arrangement. The only other city to have been internationalized was post World War II Berlin that proved to be disastrous.

Internationalization would cause more problems that already exist such as questions over who could be entrusted to police the city? Who can be entrusted to ensure the freedoms that already exist under Israeli rule? The answer is no one. Under Israeli control Jerusalem has never been so tolerant, open and free.

Lol--to appreciate the utter hypocrasy of any Arab claim that Jerusalem should be a divided city, one must look into it's history in the Arab-Israeli conflict:

-In 1948, Under the Partition Plan, Jerusalem was a UN-administered city, separated from the rest of the Jewish state. This part of the history of Jerusalem demonstrates how well the Arabs were willing to accept an international Jerusalem---that is, not at all. The 100,000 or so Jewish residents of the city were cut off from the rest of the Jewish population in this plan--not only isolating, but endangering them. The Jews didn't like the plan--it separated them from their most holy city and their Jewish bretheren--but they accepted it. The Arabs wouldn't settle for anything but a full removal of the Jews from the region, and that is what they attempted, a genocide. They invaded the tiny Jewish state with 7 armies. To their surprise, they were soundly beaten, and driven back. As a consequence of this (defensive) war, the borders of Israel expanded, and part of Jerusalem became a part of Israel.

-1967--This is where we discover how well the Arabs were willing to settle for a divided Jersualem...which is, of course, not well at all. In the 6 day war, Israel told King Hussein of Jordan that she would leave his kingdom alone if he would not invade her. He did, anyway--and he shelled civilians, primarily. The Israelis agreed to a ceasefire with him. He violated the cease-fire. Then and only then did Israel take the West Bank, and unite Jerusalem.

So, history of Jerusalem would say "no" to a 'shared capital plan', for two reasons:

1. That has been tried, and has failed.

2. Sorry--Jerusalem has been won in a defensive war and annexed to the winning power. Israel should not be required to give it up any more than France should be made to return Alsace-Lorraine to Germany.

Further points to be considered are ones of stewardship:

1. Jerusalem united under Israel has shown respect for all religious sites. None have been demolished. None have been defiled. When the Arabs had control of East Jerusalem--hebrew graves were used as lanterines by Jordinian soldiers. Other sites were turned into horse stables.

2. Security--Jordinian soldiers were quite into using Israeli civilians as target practice when they had control over East Jerusalem.

3. The fact that the city was a wreck when Israel took it. If Jerusalem is split--Israel should give the Arabs back 'their' side of the city EXACTLY as she got it. I guarantee you--the Arabs would be pissed.

Peace

Comfort comfort ye my people

Speak ye peace thus saith the Lord

Comfort those who sit in darkness

mourning neath their sorrows load

Speak ye to Jerusalem

Of the peace I have for her

Tell her that Her sins I cover

And her warfare now is over

For the Heralds voice is crying

On the desert far and near

Bidding all men to repentance

For the Kingdom now is near

Oh that warning voice obey

Now prepare for God a way

Let the valleys rise to meet Him

and the hills bow down to greet Him.

Make ye straight what long was crooked

Make the narrow places plain

With a heart that is true and humble

As befits His holy reign

For the glory of the Lord

Is on earth now shed abroad

And all men shall see the token

That His Word is never broken

peace

There are loads of opinions on this one. There are the extreme Orthodox Zionists who would rather die than concede a square inch of land to the Palestinians. There are those who believe that in order for Jews to thrive in Jerusalem, they must share it. Then there are the radical Muslims who discredit any Jewish ties to the city. Personally, I believe a shared capital isn't the best idea. I think the capital of the Palestinians should be Ramallah, personally, but they should definitely have access to the city. Israel is good about letting foreigners visit, especially for religious reasons. But in the near future, I think it'd be impossible to set up a shared infrastructure in one city. Besides, if you lived in Jerusalem, regardless of your religion, it'd be bad for your morale as a citizen to live in a divided city - so history has proven.

To answer you, NO, it has belonged to the Jewish people for over 3000 years and to no one else.For three thousand years, Jerusalem has been the center of Jewish hope and longing. No other city has played such a dominant role in the history, culture, religion and consciousness of a people as has Jerusalem in the life of Jewry and Judaism. Throughout centuries of exile, Jerusalem remained alive in the hearts of Jews everywhere as the focal point of Jewish history, the symbol of ancient glory, spiritual fulfillment and modern renewal. This heart and soul of the Jewish people engenders the thought that if you want one simple word to symbolize all of Jewish history, that word would be 'Jerusalem.'”Ever since King David made Jerusalem the capital of Israel more than 3,000 years ago, the city has played a central role in Jewish existence. The Western Wall in the Old City — the last remaining wall of the ancient Jewish Temple, the holiest site in Judaism — is the object of Jewish veneration and the focus of Jewish prayer. Three times a day, for thousands of years, Jews have prayed "To Jerusalem, thy city, shall we return with joy," and have repeated the Psalmist's oath: "If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning."

Jerusalem "has known only two periods of true greatness, and these have been separated by 2,000 years. Greatness has only happened under Jewish rule," Leon and Jill Uris wrote in Jerusalem. "This is so because the Jews have loved her the most, and have remained constant in that love throughout the centuries of their dispersion....It is the longest, deepest love affair in history.Jerusalem was never the capital of any Arab entity. In fact, it was a backwater for most of Arab history. Jerusalem never served as a provincial capital under Muslim rule nor was it ever a Muslim cultural center. For Jews, the entire city is sacred, but Muslims revere a site — the Dome of the Rock — not the city. "To a Muslim," observed British writer Christopher Sykes, "there is a profound difference between Jerusalem and Mecca or Medina. The latter are holy places containing holy sites." Besides the Dome of the Rock, he noted, Jerusalem has no major Islamic significance.

NO!

The holiest place in Judaism is Jerusalem, while the Muslims have Mecca.

Though both Christianity and Islam have holy sites in the city, the Jewish ties predate that of any other existing religion. King David made Jerusalem the capital of Israel 3,000 years ago -- 1,700 years before Islam was even founded. Jerusalem never served as even a provincial capital during the centuries of Muslim rule. The entire city is sacred to Jews; only the Dome of the Rock has religious significance to Muslims. Moreover, in the modern era, Jews have been the majority of the population of the city since the 1840s.

As for freedom of worship, the only period during which all faiths have been free to worship in peace has been since 1967 when the city became unified under Israeli sovereignty.

A key element of Arab and anti-Zionist attacks on Israel is the notion that the Jewish presence in the country is a remnant of 19th century imperialism in which Europeans colonized and exploited parts of the third world. But far from being outsiders there, the Jewish ties date back 4,000 years to the very beginning of Jewish history recounted in the Bible and verified by much of the evidence of archeology that has been discovered.

Though the Romans expelled most of the Jewish population from the country, Jewish settlement continued without interruption throughout the last 2,000 years. In all this time, the Land of Israel remained a constant in thoughts and the hearts of Jews throughout the world, as it was remembered in their daily prayers and in their dreams.

In 1947, the United Nations approved the partition of Palestine between a Jewish state and an Arab state. The response of the Palestinian Arabs, as well as the rest of the Arab and Muslim world, was a categorical rejection of any scheme that allowed a Jewish state on any part of the land, no matter what its borders might be. No effort was made to set up an independent Arab state in the part of Palestine allotted for that purpose. In the aftermath of Israel's War of Independence, in which it repelled the invasion by five Arab armies, the West Bank, Gaza and half of Jerusalem, were left in Arab hands. But for the next 19 years when these territories remained under Arab control, there was never any consideration given to creating an Arab state there. On the contrary, the focus of the Arab world was on extinguishing the fledgling state of Israel that existed in the truncated borders left by the 1949 armistice lines.

In the years after the 1967 war, Israel has maintained a willingness to negotiate a peace deal based on the concept of "land for peace." Indeed, at Camp David in July 2000 and the following January at Taba, Egypt, Israel offered the Palestinians a state in these lands as well as part of Jerusalem. The answer from Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat was "no," and he followed up that refusal by launching a terrorist war of attrition that resulted in over a thousand Jewish deaths and even more suffering on the part of his own people.

Absolutely NOT !!! After reading Shay P's answer I must say, he nailed the source of the conflicts that continue to this day. But I would like to add one thing. God gave this land to Abraham in perpetuity, forever and to his legitimate descendants. A covenant is an agreement or contract between two parties. The Bible describes two types of covenants: conditional and unconditional. A conditional covenant is one which both parties must fulfill their part for the covenant to be valid. An unconditional covenant is one that remains valid even if one party fails to keep his part. In this covenant only one faithful party is necessary to keep the promises of the covenant. The Abrahamic covenant is an unconditional covenant.

This covenant established the following promises for Israel :

* A nation forever

* A land forever

* A King forever

* A throne forever

* A kingdom forever

* Blessings forever

The Scriptures are clear that these covenants were given to Israel alone (cf. Rom. 9.1-5; Eph. 2.11-12) and that the nation of Israel will exist forever and that God will never forsake Israel.

While many will claim that Muslims share this covenant it is not true. Isaac is the true and legitimate of Abraham. Ishmael was the son of Hagar, Sarah's maid, nothing more. According to Genesis 16,:

6 "Your servant is in your hands," Abram said. "Do with her whatever you think best." Then Sarai mistreated Hagar; so she fled from her.

7 The angel of the LORD found Hagar near a spring in the desert; it was the spring that is beside the road to Shur. 8 And he said, "Hagar, servant of Sarai, where have you come from, and where are you going?"

"I'm running away from my mistress Sarai," she answered.

9 Then the angel of the LORD told her, "Go back to your mistress and submit to her."

10 The angel added, "I will so increase your descendants that they will be too numerous to count."

11 The angel of the LORD also said to her:

"You are now with child

and you will have a son.

You shall name him Ishmael,

for the LORD has heard of your misery.

12 He will be a wild donkey of a man;

his hand will be against everyone

and everyone's hand against him,

and he will live in hostility

toward all his brothers."

Ishmael is the father of the Muslims according to their claims and there has never been a better description or prophecy of his progeny than that given by the angel of the Lord. There has always been conflict between Arab and Jew over who is the rightful heir of Abraham. Please remember Hagar was NOT married to Abraham, she was the handmaiden of Sarah Abraham's legitimate wife.

In Christ,

gatita_63109

Apostolic Believer In One God, Jesus

NO

The Palestinians should go live in their Holiest Place called Mecca

NO!

Palestinian terrorism has targeted Jerusalem in an attempt to take control of the city from Israel. The result is that they have turned Jerusalem into a battleground and in fact have forfeited their claim to share in the city's destiny.

NO !!!!!!!

If Jerusalem belongs to Muslims, then Mecca belongs to the Jews !!

It CAN'T be shared or divided for the sake of Arab pillagers !!

NO...... Jerusalem has always been given to Israel....NOT anyone else....ALL of Israel belongs to the Jews...........and will always be by Gods Word