War for Jerusalem
(Signs of the Time - November 2000)

During the first week of October, 2000, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and Yasir Arafat, the Palestinian leader, were having a garden party, breaking pita bread and trading jokes in the yard of Mr. Barak’s private, suburban home in Israel. Exactly one week later the scene had changed dramatically; their people were killing each other in the streets. Palestinian rocks were flying; Israeli tanks were charging, and bodies were piling up at the morgue. As every day passed, violence progressed and each leader expressed greater distrust of the other side; in turn both sides reverted to the negative dynamic of their old, familiar roles as enemies.

Throughout the year one single headline has dominated world events. The happenings in Yugoslavia have come and gone as have the Olympics. Still, the situation in Israel remains smoldering, ready to ignite at any moment. This month’s article will continue to follow the events that surround Israel and in particular, Jerusalem. Indeed as the prophet Zechariah has told us, "Jerusalem will be as a burdensome stone for all people," not merely for those who dwell in it.

The temple mount
There are bound to be bitter debates about what motivated Ariel Sharon, the opposition leader and veteran hawk, to enter the Islamic holy compound, commonly referred to as the Temple Mount, under a huge guard in late September given the near-certainty that the Palestinians would see it as a provocation.

Following Mr. Sharon’s visit it seems that war spontaneously broke out. But was it spontaneous? As reported in the Washington Post on October 5, 2000, "The preacher at the al-Aqsa mosque called at Friday prayers to eradicate the Jews from Palestine. Official Palestinian television began playing over and over archival footage of the Palestinian intifada of 1987-1993 showing young people out in the streets throwing stones. The Voice of Palestinian radio began playing patriotic war songs. Mr. Arafat then closed the schools and declared a general strike, causing everyone to go out into the street." It was only then that "war" broke out.

The so-called war continued to escalate to the point that when a Jewish settler killed a Palestinian; a Palestinian killed a Jewish motorist. Not exactly the "people to people" component envisioned by the peace effort. Stabbing for stabbing, stoning for stoning, as if to borrow a passage from Exodus, "an eye for an eye." Within Israel itself, tensions between Israeli Jews and Israeli Arabs have also been laid bare and are so raw right now that at a mall outside Nazareth they hurled rocks at each other. After Palestinians sacked the shrine known as Joseph’s tomb in early October, Israeli Jews vandalized an Israeli-Arab house of worship, an old mosque in Tiberias, one day later.

The Israeli political situation can be described as tenuous at best. To the political right, the Likud party is glumly smug, for this is exactly what they had been warning against. The political left finds it difficult to believe how quickly the peaceful situation in Israel has deteriorated. It should be noted, however, that peace existed in the Israel primarily because the people thought that a final and lasting peace was being negotiated, and it would merely be a matter of time before it was achieved.

How far apart?
The violence that has precipitated in Israel over the past several weeks is nothing more than an expression of the level of frustration that exists between the two sides because of a number of major differences. Following are the obstacles that must be overcome before peace can be achieved.

Chart courtesy of the Washington Post

In order to achieve peace in the territory, both parties have called in a team of marquee persons to help facilitate the mandate. Included in the all-star line up are U.S. Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright; U.N. Secretary-General, Kofi Annan; Russian Foreign Minister, Igor Ivanov and Egyptian President, Hosni Mubarak.

Despite the team of all-stars it looks as though peace will be highly elusive. It is unlikely that Israel will give up 25% of their fresh water supply, nor will they withdraw to pre-1967 borders. However, by far and away the most difficult hurdle to clear are the issues surrounding Jerusalem. As can be noted by the table, both the Israeli’s and Palestinian’s desire to maintain control over the city, a city which the Lord has told us will be "a burdensome stone to all people." Yet we reserve final judgment on immediate events as enormous changes can occur in the most unanticipated way.

As believers we can merely watch, wait and listen to the signs around us and conclude that our Master’s return is imperative in order for a true and lasting peace to be achieved. Let us pray that it may come quickly.

George Rayner

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