Jerusalem's many lovers

Submitted by Jay (United States), Jun 8, 2006 at 01:21

Dr. Pipes writes an interesting point that the Muslims seem now to have a more passionate view of Jerusalem than the Jews.He's right on his observation, but the Jews strike me as more right. The reason lies in his article when he writes that the Muslim interest in Jerusalem became strongest during the British control of 1917 and the Israeli victory in 1967.

To the Muslims referred to in his article, Jerusalem has become a symbol of the infidel rejection.Jerusalem is the city version of Palestine not Israel. To the Irans and Arafats of the world, Jerusalem is a place to point and claim, reject others and fight. Even if it means blowing up school buses. Even if it means flying big Arafat picture flags. It is a symbol starved attempt for the wrong reasons.

But do the Jewish people still love Jerusalem?The Jewish people have heightened Jerusalem to a beautiful city,beyond belief ,when you consider that it was so neglected and deserted as Dr.Pipes reminds us. Beyond belief because it was done during these 58 years that Israel has been embattled. Jerusalem to the Jewish people is a beautiful city of a beautiful people of a beautiful country. To the secular people of Israel it is just that. It is a part and a symbol of their religious and national soul.To the very religious of Israel it is more literal and thus at times, a my way or the hi way place. If the very religious of Israel and the secular of Israel loved each other a bit more, there wouldnt be a need for an article called Muslim Zionism. Yes, Israelis want to separate from the Palestinians even on Jerusalem soil because Israelis finally believe that the Palestinians really dont like them.This particular article suggests that many Muslims hate the Jews more than the Jews love themselves. I wish I could disagree.

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