Jaffa Gate, where Jerusalem’s Old meets New
Jaffa Gate,
You are an iconic meeting point in Jerusalem. Of histories, peoples, religions, locals, tourists, pilgrims, empires, old and new.
You are one of the eight gates of the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem. You were built in the years 1535-1538.
When people walk into the Old City through you, they can turn left to the Christian Quarter, go straight to the Muslim Quarter or turn right to the Armenian Quarter. If they follow past the Armenian Quarter, they will reach the Jewish Quarter.
You are very well known. You are one of the main entrances people use on their pilgrimages to the Old City. As part of the Old City walls, you’re familiar with Sultan Suleiman, the man who thought you up. Legend says he had your planners killed because they didn’t include the City of David (the actual biblical city of Jerusalem) in the walls. They are buried right beside you. Charming fellow, he was.
You saw when a huge chunk of wall was broken down right next to you so that the German emperor could enter on horseback in 1898. Silliness indeed.
You’ve seen wars. Most recently, Israel’s War of Independence in 1948 which saw all Jews kicked out of the Old City and the Six-Day War of 1967 which saw the place inside your walls made into a space where all religions can practice.
For hundreds of years you’ve watched millions of pilgrims from all over the world, passing through you on their way to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, to the Western Wall, to the Dome of the Rock.
For hundreds of years you’ve watched locals sell snacks, tours and souvenirs to these people.
You’ve seen oh so much construction. You went up in the 1500s. The Ottomans built a clock tower right on top of you in 1907. That came down. In 1912 the Bezalel art school built a pavilion next to you to sell art. That was brought down a few years later too. People put up little shops along the walls. Those were removed in order to preserve the walls’ original look. Most recently, the square on your outside has become large and beautiful and the walls have been fixed up.
And the traffic has been redirected under a tunnel instead of right next to you as it used to be.
Jaffa Gate, from the mid-1800s, Jerusalem began overflowing outside of the Old City walls and today it spans many times bigger than it ever was. From where you stand you’ve watched it happen and where you stand, you will always remain one of the main thoroughfares from the New City into the beloved old one.
Yes, you are indeed an iconic meeting point. You are beautiful and you’ve seen it all. If only gates to talk…
This post is in reply to wp.com’s weekly writing challenge.
The announcement made by our President Donald Trump, in an official statement recognizes Jerusalem as The Capital of Israel.
ReplyDeleteIt reiterates an existing U.S. Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995 and meets the U.N. resolution below.
The consequence of the 1947 U.N. Resolution 181 to Jerusalem in our time.
If you believe that the 1947 U.N. resolution 181 is valid, which it is not valid; since the U.N. can only recommend; which is non-binding with no legal standing.
The United Nations Partition Plan of 1947
Resolution 181 (II). Future government of Palestine - states:
The United Nations Partition Plan for Palestine was a proposal by the United Nations, which recommended a partition of Mandatory Palestine at the end of the British Mandate. On 29 November 1947, the UN General Assembly adopted the Plan as Resolution 181(II).
D. DURATION OF THE SPECIAL REGIME of Jerusalem - The Statute elaborated by the Trusteeship Council on the aforementioned principles shall come into force not later than 1 October 1948. It shall remain in force in the first instance for a period of ten years, unless the Trusteeship Council finds it necessary to undertake a re-examination of these provisions at an earlier date. After the expiration of this ten year period the whole scheme shall be subject to re-examination by the Trusteeship Council in the light of the experience acquired with its functioning.
The residents of the City of Jerusalem shall be then free to express by means of a referendum their wishes as to possible modifications of the regime of the City.
Since majority of the population of Jerusalem is Jewish as has been since the early 1800’s, the vote of a referendum is for The Jewish people to take over the full control and sovereignty of Jerusalem. These terms are now in place and the U.N. or any other entity cannot change those terms. Therefore, any vote or statement by the U.N. or any of its administrative bodies that proposes to change those terms and facts are illegal and have no bearing.
ReplyDeleteThe announcement made by our President Donald Trump, in an official statement recognizes Jerusalem as The Capital of Israel.
It reiterates an existing U.S. Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995 and meets the U.N. resolution below.
The consequence of the 1947 U.N. Resolution 181 to Jerusalem’s status in our time.
If you believe that the 1947 U.N. resolution 181 is valid, which it is not valid; since the U.N. can only recommend; which is non-binding with no legal standing?
The United Nations Partition Plan of 1947
Resolution 181 (II). Future government of Palestine
The United Nations Partition Plan for Palestine was a proposal by the United Nations, which recommended a partition of Mandatory Palestine at the end of the British Mandate. On 29 November1947, the UN General Assembly adopted the Plan as Resolution 181(II).
Jerusalem
D. DURATION OF THE SPECIAL REGIME of Jerusalem - The Statute elaborated by the Trusteeship Council on the aforementioned principles shall come into force not later than 1 October 1948. It shall remain in force in the first instance for a period of ten years, unless the Trusteeship Council finds it necessary to undertake a re-examination of these provisions at an earlier date. After the expiration of this ten year period the whole scheme shall be subject to re-examination by the Trusteeship Council in the light of the experience acquired with its functioning.
The residents of the City of Jerusalem shall be then free to express by means of a referendum their wishes as to possible modifications of the regime of the City.
Since majority of the population of Jerusalem is Jewish as has been since the early 1800’s, the vote of a referendum is for The Jewish people to take over the full control and sovereignty of Jerusalem. These terms are now in place and the U.N. or any other entity cannot change those terms. Therefore, any vote or statement by the U.N. or any of its administrative bodies that proposes to change those terms and facts are illegal and have no bearing.
Dr. Mordechai Kedar tells Al Jazeera why Israel can't make peace with the Arab world, until they make peace with themselves.
ReplyDeleteModerator is asking. - Aren’t you afraid of the reaction of the Arab and the Muslim people?
Aren’t you scared of the situation on the Arab streets?
What do you think?
Dr. Kedar answered. - On the contrary The Arabs and the Muslims know that the origin of the name Al Quds (Jerusalem) is Beit El MuQaddas. That’s what you guest the Sheikh said in the studio. “Bayt al-Muqaddas” is the Arabic form of the Hebrew word of The Jewish Temple. That is proof from the Arabic language; that the Jewish Temple was here and it was translated “Beit El MuQaddas”. Anyone with any sense knows that. But we look, I say this in all honesty. We in Israel are not interested in peace with the Arab world. Why, because you can’t give something you don’t have. The Arab world does not know what peace is. The Sheikh - You don’t have anything either, you have nothing. Dr Kedar - I would like to remind you Sheikh, Sheikh. You asked me to be quiet, right? Look at what is happening between the Sunnis and Shiites, and between the Kurds and the Arabs; between the tribes of Libya and Yemen. See what’s happening in Iran and the Arab countries. Iran is collecting them like eggs from the floor. While the Arab world remains silent. There is no peace in, or outside, the Arab world. We would love to have peace with the Arabs, but first broker peace between the Arab/Muslim groups, tribes, ethnicities, and religions. Only than we in Israel will join in the Arab peace. But right now the Arab world is a swamp of fire, tears and blood. Who would want to get close to you? Who would want to talk to you? The Arab world is a failure! The Arab nation is a failure! Who would want you? We in Israel are a progressive country, we are a Democratic State. We are a developing country part of the OECD. If Israel ever opened its gates to the Arabs Half of them would move to Israel the first day, and the other half the day after. That is the indisputable truth. Even in Al-Jazeera Studios.
It is the Arab Conflict, not Israel. The Arabs want what Israel has; which they rebuilt with blood sweat and tears; well they cannot have it.
ReplyDeleteIsrael is on its own historical territory with continued habitation of Jerusalem and The Land of Israel for over 3,000 years, that in the past 130 years with hard work and toil have turned the land of Israel from a desert, desolate and abused land into green pastures with modern industry and infrastructure and a first class medical research, outstanding technology and innovation that is helping all the people and nations in the world. The Arabs have over 13 million sq. km. since WWI of which 70% is vacant with a wealth of oil reserves plus Jordan which is Jewish territory. The Arab countries expelled over a million Jewish families (confiscated all their assets including homes and over 120,000 sq. km. of Jewish owned land for over 2,600 years) who were resettled in Israel and now they want to throw them out of their own country. There is no such entity as Arab Palestinians, they are Arabs from the neighboring Arab countries that most of them crossed the border illegally into Israel and settled there on Jewish land in the past 120 years. The Arab-Palestinian Organization is a terrorist organization just like Hamas and Hezbollah with its leader Mahmmoud Abbas the convicted terrorist murderer.
The Arabs and the world at large must face reality and stop deluding themselves. It is Jewish territory for over 3,000 years and Israel will never surrender it to anyone.
Only with this realization will there be a chance for peace.
U.N. resolutions are non-binding with no legal standing.
YJ Draiman