Opinion : O Jerusalem!

Israel’s step to recapture the lost places of her heritage and tradition can be  encouraging and worth emulating to all those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness

Prof C I Issac

USA under Trump administration is the first State which accepts Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. On January 23, 1950, the Knesset (National Assembly of Israel) passed a resolution that made Jerusalem as the capital of Republic Israel. Thereupon this city became the de facto and de jure capital of Israel. It is the grave reality. The world as a whole closed their eyes before this reality in the name of diplomacy. 104th US Congress, on October 23, 1995, passed “the Israel Embassy” bill for the purpose of the commencement and funding the relocation of the Embassy of the United States in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Bill even fixed the cutoff date for the same as no later than May 31, 1999. In the name of national security interest and appeasing the Muslim Middle East successive Presidents waved the final assent to the Bill. After eighteen years USA under Trump attested this reality and Okayed the bill. No doubt it is a good step ahead for a new world order. This brave step of Trump drops new hope to the people who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake all over the world. Particularly, linguistic and religious minority communities like Tibetans, Red Indian communities, Hindus of Pakistan and Bangladesh, etc. who are still undergoing persecutions in their respective regions of the world.   
The UNO’s Partition Plan for Palestine adopted by the UN General Assembly as Resolution No. 181 on November 29, 1947 fulfilled the long cherished Jewish dream of the father land, Israel. Very soon the unhappy Arabs invaded new born Israel with religious vendetta. Subsequent to the Arab-Israeli War 1948, Jerusalem was divided and the Western half became the part of Israel, whereas the eastern half along with the Old City went to Jordan. Hence Israel is an entity and contemporary reality. The present Israel is the father land to the Jews and equally Holy Land to Christians and Muslims. At the same time all the
three religions’ most sacred sites are in Jerusalem. This is the centre of the current problem. Within the Old City, the Temple (Temple of Solomon) Mount Complex includes the Dome of the Rock Shrine, the historic Western Wall of Jews and Church of the Holy Sepulcher of Christians as well as
Al-Aqsa Mosque of Muslims are quartering. The rest parts of Jerusalem like Western Wall and Jewish Cemetery on the Mount of Olives are also culturally and sentimentally important to Jews also.  As per the Cease Fire Agreement of 1949 between Jordan and Israel, Jordan agreed for the
protection of Jewish Monuments and free access to the Jews to their holy sites. Jordan breached all the clauses of the agreement and ransacked synagogues, destroyed monuments of historical importance under their possession.  
On the basis of the new developments in the world heritage sites of Jerusalem appeals were made to the United Nations and to the international community by Israel for declaring the Old City to be an Open City and stop its destruction, but there was no response. Hence Israel was forced to use its military force. Consequently the Six-Day Arab–Israeli War of 1967 broke out. It was the Third Arab–Israeli War which was fought between June 5 and 10, 1967. By this war several vital and strategic places of Arabs including Jerusalem fell under the hands of Israel. Hence the State of Israel shifted their capital city from Tel Aviv to the place of
their sentimental and historic site Jerusalem. It is a reality. All nations must come forward to recognise this reality. It is the need of the hour.
An Ice-breaking Step
Thus the bold step of Trump deserves applauses. No doubt sooner or later the other countries will follow the US path. Trump’s step is only an ice breaking. India can follow this as a paradigm. Whenever our country was in war with Pakistan, all the Muslim countries of the Middle East, except Sadham Hussain paraded behind Pakistan. No doubt in future also the same will happen. It is an untold reality that the Arab countries are the disguised financers of extremists of India.  Since the days of Goan operation, including Chinese invasion, Israel had extended its moral and material support to India. In future also Israel will be the best friend of India, not to forget ‘A friend in need is a friend indeed.’  
Forceful occupation of others’ land or places of historic or cultural importance is not justifiable. Israel’s step of recapturing the lost places of their heritage and tradition is an emulated model and encouraging endeavour to all who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness in modern times. To the Tibetan refugees of India this committed Jewish step will pour courage to regain their motherland. Likewise the Pundits of Kashmir who are destined to be refugees in their own mother country. What is Jerusalem to the Jews, Christians and Muslims, Ayodhya and Mathura are to the Hindus of India. Hindus of India can exult the Israeli courage, commitment and patience in the long way to regain whatever things lost to them after the 12th century CE.

(The writer is Vice-President, Bharatheeya Vichara Kendram)