Introspection of Jerusalem - Essay Example

Entry to Jerusalem is the privilege of Palestinians and Christians alike because their religious beliefs are also highly associated with this Holy Land. Christianity emerged from Judaism around 4 B.C. since the birth of Jesus Christ who was born and brought up as a true Jew. In the same way, Muslims believe that Mohammad ascended into heaven at al-Haran-al-Sharif which also is one of the areas of the current dispute.

Irrespective of the discrepancy, Israel permits all religious beliefs to be cherished in Jerusalem. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (2009) expressed the Israel policy on this issue in his address on the occasion of the Jerusalem Day State Ceremony. “United Jerusalem is the capital of Israel. Jerusalem has always been and always will be ours. It will never again be divided or cut in half. Jerusalem will remain only under Israel’s sovereignty. In the united Jerusalem, the freedom of worship and freedom of access for all three religions to the holy sites will be guaranteed, and it is the only way to guarantee that members of all faiths, minorities, and denominations can continue living here safely.” (Prime Minister’s Office).

To illustrate, in 1947 when the United Nations established two states in Palestine, one Jewish and other Arab Jerusalem was considered an Independent international city. However, in 1948 the Arabs attacked the Jewish sector of Jerusalem but the Israeli force gained upper hand in the battle. In 1948, when the modern state Israel was established, Jews were persecuted and expelled from the Old City. (Ullian K., 2008 p.110). It was later in the Six-Day War of 1967 Jerusalem was reunited by Israel.

Jerusalem is safe under the sovereignty of Israel because every day hundreds of pilgrims and tourists from all over the world visit Jerusalem. Moreover, this secularism will only be maintained as long as the City remains under the control of Israel. For instance, although the Temple Mount’s Western Wall is the most Sacred place of Jewish worship, Muslims have free access to the area; whereas from 1948 to 1967 Jewish People were denied access to this Sacred Wall. As Mr. Netanyahu says “ for nineteen years, Jerusalem was a wounded city; a city at the heart of which were barbed wires and minefields, firing posts and “no man’s lands”. It was only after the battle of 1967 the situation changed when Jerusalem was reunited and reopened for the entire world.