The Mount of Olives: Jerusalem and the Jewish People
Make no mistake about it, Israel's enemies want to posses the Mount of Olives. Past Israeli governments thought they could hold on to the Mt.of Olives but give away the access routes to it, but even these Left wing governments knew it was too important to the Jewish people to give away out right. But how integral a part it is of the Jewish people is important for Jews and friends of Israel to understand. (Israel's enemies do understand this and that is why they want it.)
In a recent study of the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, Nadav Shragai summarizes his paper this way:
- The Jewish cemetery on the Mount of Olives, that the Palestinians demand to transfer to their control, is the most important Jewish cemetery in the world. The area has constituted a religious and national pantheon for the Jewish people and the State of Israel, containing the tombs of the illustrious dead of the nation over the course of 3,000 years and serving as a site for Jewish gathering and prayer at the time of the ancient Temple and even prior to it.
- Under Jordanian rule, Jewish access and the continued burial of Jews on the mount was prohibited, despite Jordan's explicit commitment in the Israeli-Jordanian Armistice Agreement of 1949. During the period of Jordanian rule, the cemetery was destroyed and desecrated, and 38,000 of its tombstones and graves were smashed to smithereens.
- Since Jerusalem's reunification, burial ceremonies were renewed at the site and large sections of the cemetery were rehabilitated. Nevertheless, attempts by Palestinians to damage the cemetery have never totally abated, and there have been periodic attacks on Jewish mourners escorting their dead for burial.
- Previous Israeli governments that consented to discuss arrangements in Jerusalem with the Palestinians rejected their demand to transfer the Mount of Olives to PA sovereignty and control. Nevertheless, those governments were prepared to give their assent to the transfer of neighborhoods that control the access routes to the mount. Should any such agreement be implemented in the future, it could endanger freedom of access to the site and continued Jewish burial there.
- In any future arrangements, in order to allow continued Jewish burial on the mount, Israel must guarantee freedom of access to the site by controlling the arteries leading to it, as well as the areas adjacent to it. On the previous occasions that Israel transferred areas that included Jewish holy sites to Palestinian control, the Palestinians severely encumbered or refused to allow Jewish access to these places. Sometimes these sites were even severely damaged.
Nadav goes on to trace its importance from the days of King David until today. He also documents the destruction of Jewish graves when the Arabs controlled the area. We strongly recommend that you read Nadav's study and pass it on.
America must be told in no uncertain terms that there will be NO NEGOTIATION concerning Jerusalem. To expect the P.A.to uphold their "promises" is wishful thinking. Israel must be in charge of all access.
If The Mount of Olives is given away under American et. al. pressure, then, you do not deserve to stay as guardians of Israel. Everyone who has a grain of understanding on the Middle East/Israel problem knows that there has to be a war. Why is this ? because the resolution of this problem has nothing to do with Jerusalem, refugees, settlements or the price of fish! Islam wants to replace Israel. Islam it is creeping closer and closer to the West after successfully 'taking over' Indonesia, Northern Africa, Nigeria, Islam has been on the move since the late 50's.
Israel MUST be strong and do what is best for Israel and not what the rest of the world wants in order to placate Islam . Islam will not be placated, to them it is a jahad that they must win at all cost and in whatever way possible. Loss of human life is not a consideration as the underlying factor is that to die for this major cause is in fact part of jahad.
Pure Bible will be played out but only if Israel is strong and is seen to be strong.