Reading Response #2

As I read through these readings, I noticed something very interesting. I have learned in a variety of settings, about Middle East history and politics. Yet very rarely do these settings offer an opportunity to get into the depths of the history of Jerusalem. I believe this is because, as these articles proved, the history of Jerusalem is a subject matter in and of itself.

All three articles recounted numerous power shifts, with which came changes in development, economy, geography, culture, and religious life in Jerusalem. There are numerous narratives about the development of how Jerusalem came to be situated in the modern day, commonly referred to as the post-1967 makeup. Each of these narratives varies from one another, so it is important to be objective in understanding this history.

Rehav Rubin's article ends by stating that "Jerusalem was reunited during the Six Day War of 1967... and Jerusalem, with all its municipal and political complexities, became a united city where Jews and Muslims, some secular and others religious, could live side by side." This is a beautiful statement, but as Rashid Khaladi's history of Jerusalem from an Arab perspective (which, it should be noted that there are more than one perspective from the Arab population in Jerusalem) tells us, modern day Jerusalem is not so simple after all. A personal experience of mine has furthered this thought for me. 


An Israeli national holiday comes around every late spring called Yom Yerushalyim, or Jerusalem Day. This day is to celebrate the reunification of Jerusalem by Israel, and consists of ceremonies, celebrations, and festivities to appreciate modern day Jerusalem in all its glory. I mustn't criticize this day too much, as nations around the world celebrate independence and recount the times in which they reclaimed a specific land, but some of what I experienced was deeply saddening. I will say that celebrations in West Jerusalem were exciting and fun. I celebrated with friends and strangers as we took recognition to the urban success that West Jerusalem has become. Though, as I wandered into the Old City in the late afternoon, I was exposed to a completely different scenario. I watched as bands of teens, adults, and children, mostly of the Orthodox Jewish persuasion, marched through the Muslim, Armenian, and Christian quarters (all heavily populated by Arabs) as they chanted songs of pride and banged on the doors of shops and homes of innocent Arab citizens. I was conflicted. I am very proud of Israel and all of it's successes, but this sight was embarrassing. It was abuse. It was disgusting. As I read Rubin's words, I could not stand but to recount this image, and realize that even post 1967, as has been all throughout it's history, there are massive problems in Jerusalem. 

These problems, as all three articles suggest, are much due to religious conflict. With holy places such as The Dome of The Rock, The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and The Western Wall, Jerusalem is of great significance to the three prominent monotheistic religions in the world. Clearly, there are conflicts of interest when it comes to deciding who has control over what. Yet I believe there are conflicts we must face before we can approach the bigger issue. Dumper's article tells us that there are "social tensions... within the Israeli Jewish community itself." Issues with Orthodoxy and religious law are very prominent in Jerusalem. As an example, many progressive Jews feel out of place and even under attack while praying at the Western Wall, because they must adhere to Orthodox religious practices. Similar conflicts occur at the important Christian site, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, where different sects have fought over who has control of different parts of the Church for years. While I am not familiar with them, I am sure there are similar difficulties within the Muslim population of Jerusalem, possibly dealing with the Al-Aqsa mosque and the Dome of the Rock. 
I believe that these issues must be resolved before there is even a chance at resolving the bigger religious issues that encompass Jerusalem. This situation is not a simple one, so any steps that are taken to resolve it will also be complex.