ISRAEL - Solving the Jerusalem problem, the key to Israeli-Palestinian peace, is not impossible. The answer is two cities, two new names. Despite current tensions in Gaza, first son-in-law Jared Kushner insists that the Deal of the Century — an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement — is on the way. A number of thorny disagreements would need to be resolved if that’s to happen; first and foremost, the status of Jerusalem.
Under a division plan, two separate cities could be created out of Jerusalem. Each city would belong to a larger national or autonomous unit: Jewish Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, Arab Jerusalem as part of whatever Arab state or entity emerges from the peace deal, whose capital will be Ramallah.
The Old City of Jerusalem, including the Temple Mount, Western Wall and Christian holy places, would be internationalized. Specific holy sites can be administered by the civil or denominational authorities of each side (as they are now).
Two “Jerusalems,” side by side, is an invitation to further conflict in the name of unification. The solution is obvious: A name change. The Jewish city can be called by its Hebrew name “Yerushalayim,” as it has been by Jews for thousands of years (and is called by Israelis today). The Arabs also do not use the name “Jerusalem.” Since at least the 9th Century they have called the city “Al Quds,” meaning “The Holy One” and that is what they call it today.
The two-city compromise is, of course, more easily described than achieved. Leaders on both sides will have to swallow compromises and convince their followers that there is no choice. Israel has resisted for years suggestions that Jerusalem be divided. It will take pressure from the Trump administration and its main negotiator, Jared Kushner, to get past that.
First – a little bit of history.
Here is part of UN Resolution 303 regarding the status of Jerusalem back in 1947.
“UN General Assembly resolution 303 reiterated the UN commitment to internationalization of Jerusalem, and designated it a ‘corpus separatum’ - separate body. Under the original partition plan of 1947 (GA resolution 181), Jerusalem was to have been administered under UN sovereignty as an international city. The outbreak of hostilities immediately following the publication of the partition plan, led to division of Jerusalem into an eastern half controlled by Jordan and a western half under Israeli sovereignty. The Arabs initially rejected the internationalization of Jerusalem, and the Jewish side accepted it. By the end of the war of independence (1948 war) after the Jews had been expelled from the old city of Jerusalem, the Israeli government rejected internationalization.”
So this is not a new idea.
However, there is an even bigger problem. The Muslim side will not even recognise that the State of Israel exists! They want to see Israel destroyed. They want all of Jerusalem... and all of what is now Israel. It will be interesting to see how Mr Kushner solves this issue.
To date, many have tried to bring peace in Israel - all have failed.
Perhaps all parties involved should read what God has to say on the subject of Jerusalem:
“Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem. And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it.” (Zechariah 12:2-3)
“Just what is an APOSTLE?”
Today we find the Church of God in a “wilderness of religious confusion!”
The confusion is not merely around the Church – within the religions of the world outside – but WITHIN the very heart of The True Church itself!
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