HHMI Newsgroup Archives
From: Gary Collett
To: heb_roots_chr@hebroots.org
Subject: Crash course on Arab / Israeli Conflict
CRASH COURSE ON ARAB / ISRAELI CONFLICT
The material following was written by an American Professor and worth sharing...
HERE ARE THE BRIEF FACTS ON THE ISRAELI CONFLICT TODAY:
1. Nationhood and Jerusalem; Israel became a nation in 1312 B.C.E., two thousand years before the rise of Islam.
2. Arab refugees in Israel began identifying themselves as part of a Palestinian people in 1967, two decades after the establishment of the modern State of Israel.
3. Since the Jewish conquest in 1272 B.C.E., the Jews have had dominion over the land for one thousand years with a continuous presence in the land for the past 3,300 years.
4. The only Arab dominion, since the conquest in 635 C.E., lasted no more than 22 years.
5. For over 3,300 years, Jerusalem has been the Jewish capital Jerusalem has never been the capital of any Arab or Muslim entity. Even when the Jordanians occupied Jerusalem, they never sought to make it their capital, and Arab leaders did not come to visit.
6. Jerusalem is mentioned over 700 times in Tanach, the Jewish Holy Scriptures. Jerusalem is not mentioned once in the Koran.
7. King David founded the city of Jerusalem. Mohammed never came to Jerusalem.
8. Jews pray facing Jerusalem. Muslims pray with their backs toward Jerusalem.
9. Arab and Jewish Refugees: In 1948 the Arab refugees were encouraged to leave Israel by Arab leaders promising to purge the land of Jews. Sixty-eight percent left without ever seeing an Israeli soldier.
10. Jewish refugees were forced to flee from Arab lands due to Arab brutality, persecution and pogroms.
11. The number of Arab refugees who left Israel in 1948 is estimated to be around 630,000. The number of Jewish refugees from Arab lands is estimated to be the same.
12. Arab refugees were INTENTIONALLY not absorbed or integrated into the Arab lands to which they fled, despite the vast Arab territory. Out of the 100,000,000 refugees since World War II, theirs is the only refugee group in the world that has never been absorbed or integrated into their own peoples' lands. Jewish refugees were completely absorbed into Israel, a country no larger than the state of New Jersey.
13. The Arab - Israeli Conflict; The Arabs are represented by twenty separate nations, not including the Palestinians. There is only one Jewish nation. The Arab nations initiated all five wars and lost. Israel defended itself each time and won.
14. The P.L.O.'s Charter still calls for the destruction of the State of Israel. Israel has given the Palestinians most of the West Bank land, autonomy under the Palestinian Authority, and has supplied them with weapons.
15. Under Jordanian rule, Jewish holy sites were desecrated and the Jews were denied access to places of worship. Under Israeli rule, all Muslim and Christian sites have been preserved and made accessible to people of all faiths.
16. The U.N. Record on Israel and the Arabs of the 175 Security Council resolutions passed before 1990, 97 were directed against Israel.
17. Of the 690 General Assembly resolutions voted on before 1990, 429 were directed against Israel.
18. The U.N was silent while 58 Jerusalem Synagogues were destroyed by the Jordanians.
19.The U.N. was silent while the Jordanians systematically desecrated the ancient Jewish cemetery on the Mount of Olives.
20.The U.N.was silent while the Jordanians enforced an apartheid-like policy of preventing Jews from visiting the Temple Mount and the Western Wall.
Jerusalem's role as "The Third Holiest Site in Islam" in mainstream Islamic writings does not precede the 1930s. Jerusalem's current position was created by the Grand Mufti Haj Amin al Husseini. In the days of the "Prophet" Mohammed, who died in 632 of the Common Era, Jerusalem was a Christian city within the Byzantine Empire. Jerusalem was captured by Khalif Omar only in 638, six years after the Prophet Mohammed's death. Throughout all this time there were only churches in Jerusalem, and a church stood on the Temple Mount, called the Church of Saint Mary of Justinian, built in the Byzantine architectural style.
The Mufti in the 1930s knew that nationalist slogans alone would not succeed in uniting the masses against arriving Jewish refugees. He therefore turned the struggle into a religious conflict. He addressed the masses clearly, calling for a holy war. His battle cry was simple and comprehensive: "Down with the Infidels!" From the time Herbert Samuel appointed him to the position of Mufti, Haj Amin worked vigorously to raise Jerusalem's status as an Islamic holy center. He renovated the mosques on the Temple Mount, while conducting an unceasing campaign regarding the imminent Jewish "threat" to Moslem holy sites.
The Moslem "claim" to Jerusalem is based on what is written in the Koran, which although Jerusalem is not mentioned even once, nevertheless talks (in Sura 17:1) of the "Furthest Mosque": "Glory be unto Allah who did take his servant for a journey at night from the Sacred Mosque to the Furthest Mosque." But is there any foundation to the Moslem argument that this "Furthest Mosque" (Al-Masujidi al-Aksa) refers to what is today called the Aksa Mosque in Jerusalem? The answer is, none whatsoever.
The Aksa Mosque was built 20 years after the Dome of the Rock, which was built in 691-692 by Khalif Abd El Malik. The name "Omar Mosque" is therefore a misnomer. In or around 711, or about 80 years after the Prophet Mohammed died, Malik's son, Abd El-Wahd - who ruled from 705-715 - reconstructed the destroyed Christian-Byzantine Church of St. Mary and converted it into a mosque. He left the structure as it was, a typical Byzantine "basilica" structure with a row of pillars on either side of the rectangular "ship" in the center. All he added was an onion-like dome on top of the building to make it look like a mosque. He then named it El-Aksa, so it would sound like the one mentioned in the Koran.
Therefore it is historically clear that Prophet Mohammed could never have had this mosque in mind when he compiled the Koran, since it did not exist for another three generations after his death. Rather, as many scholars long ago established, Mohammed intended the mosque in Medina as El Aksa, the "Furthest Mosque." This is another instance where religious reproof and instruction is being twisted for political gains. Source:
http://www.gamla.org.il/english/article/2001/jan/win2.htm
Food for thought...
Blessings, --Gary and Debra
(Dr. GR Collett)
*Hebraic Roots Learning Center, PO Box 11388, Jerusalem 91113, Israel
*Jerusalem Ministries International, USA Offices: PO Box 1667, Everett, Wa. 98201
*USA and Israeli non-profit organizations
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From:Gary Collett
To: heb_roots_chr@hebroots.org
Subject: Jerusalem!
CRASH COURSE ON ARAB / ISRAELI CONFLICT (PART II)
Israel's fight for survival:
1. Pre-state: Arab attacks on existing Jewish communities --1921, 1929, 1936-9, 1947.
2. War of Independence (First Arab-Israeli War) 1948-9.
3. Fedeyeen attacks --1949-56
4. Sinai Campaign --1956
5. Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) formed and terrorist war begins against Israel 1964 (Three years before so-called "occupied territories" concept).
6. Six Day War --1967
7. War of Attrition at the Suez Canal -- 1969-70
8. Yom Kippur War -- 1973
9. International terrorism e.g. Entebbe -- 1976
10. Lebanese wars -- 1978
11. PLO/Hamas/Tanzim Terrorists -- 1987-to present
12. Iraqi SCUD Attacks -- 1991
Other than the Jewish people in the Biblical lands there has been no other creation of a sovereign state and Jerusalem has not been the sovereign capital of any empire since the time of King David. Historical records show there has always been a Jewish presence in the Land! The Land Covenant for the Jewish People is described in Genesis 17:7,8: "And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you. Also I give to you and your descendants after you the land in which you are a stranger, all the land of Canaan, as an everlasting possession; and I will be their God." The only requirement on which this "covenant" is based is circumcision! And ironically enough it is on that very basis that the Jewish People were identified throughout the centuries by which they gained persecution!
For your consideration I am including a paper written by the Attorney
who came to help us on the main project we are involved with in
Israel.
Sovereignty to G-d?
Legal Analysis and Implications
The problem of Jerusalem and the Temple Mount is so complicated that everyone is desperate and some are thinking to send this problem back to its source, i.e. to G-d. Recently Bill Clinton, Osni Mubarak, Abraham Burg, Ehud Olmert, Denis Ross proposed that sovereignty should be given to G-d. Also did the late King Hussein.
For European statesmen any agreed compromise is acceptable as long as their interests are not prejudiced and to confer sovereignty to G-d serves their interest: all humans, being G-d's children, have a direct lien to Jerusalem. Consequently, Jerusalem has not only become international but supranational.
Non-believers are certainly uneasy with such a strange idea: how could sovereignty belong to someone who does not exist. Pantheists must be puzzled. For Polytheiststhe earthly conflicts are not solved but transposed to a higher degree in heavens: thus the fight for sovereignty over Jerusalem will continue between the various gods.
Jurists, accustomed to analyze legal questions "rationally", are at loss; the attributes, legal personality and powers of the Almighty have no relevant legal doctrine or precedent, except in monotheist religions.
The concept of giving sovereignty over Jerusalem to G-d is from the legal point of view very interesting and the result is astonishing: G-d gave sovereignty back to humans.
The Almighty's sovereignty over Jerusalem should not raise difficulties in International Law: International Law's scholars sustain that "natural law" derived from divine law (Manual of the Terminology of Public International Law (Peace) and International Organizations by Dr. I. Paenson, Bruylant, 1983, p. 18).
Who can be sovereign according to International Law? English Jurist J. Austin (1789-1859) states that a sovereign is: "a determinate individual or body of individuals, owing no allegiance to any body laying down the law i.e. a command which obliges to follow a rule of conduct which is obeyed by determinate inferior beings, on pain of sanctions". This earthly legal criteria does not seem to be entirely applicable since G-d cannot be reduced to an individual or body of individuals. But for the believers G-d is the real sovereign.
Which laws to apply? When the parties involved in the negotiation on Jerusalem confer sovereignty to the Almighty they should take into account that G-d's rules become thereby applicable. The Bible, the New Testament and the Koran contain rules of conduct as well as sanctions to be applied. The Creator being eternal, the laws given are considered eternal. The Bible is very meticulous and certain laws contained therein are difficult to comprehend while others are beyond human understanding but the experience of scholars of Jewish Law since 3.500 years should be helpful to apply the applicable rules. G-d ordered to appoint (human) judges to apply these laws. But should the appointed judges in Jerusalem apply Jewish Law only? What about Canonic Law or the Law according to the Koran? The only sources available are the holy scriptures of the three religions.
Here are some excerpts from the Bible, the New Testament and the Koran in chronological order: " For the love of Zion, I shall not keep silent, for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest until her vindication go forth as brightness and its liberation as a burning torch " (Isaiah 62: 1). "Break forth into joy, sing together you waste places of Jerusalem for the Lord has comforted his people, he has redeemed Jerusalem " (Isaiah 52: 9). "I shall gather you from all countries and shall bring you back on your own land....I shall put within you my spirit and I shall cause you to follow my statutes and keep my laws" (Ezekiel 36: 23-27). (Emphasis added)
From these excerpts it clearly appears that Jewish Law, not limited to Jerusalem, is applicable. According to the New Testament the Law of Moses should also apply in Jerusalem: "Think not that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish them but to fulfill them" (Matthew 5: 17). " For truly, I say it to you, till heaven and earth will pass away, not an iota, not a dot will be erased from the Law (of Moses), until all is accomplished" (Matthew 5: 18). "Whoever then suppresses one of the least of these commandments and teaches men so, shall be called least in the Kingdom of Heaven; but he who does them and teaches them shall be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven" (Matthew 5:19).
Most surprisingly the Koran give the "jurisdiction" to the Jews: "We chose them (Children of Israel) on the basis of knowledge, above the worlds; and gave them such signs as constituted an experience manifest " (Koran - Surah 44, 32 - 33). "We bestowed upon the Children of Israel the Book, the Jurisdiction and the Prophet hood; We provided them with good things and gave them precedence over the worlds " (Koran - Surah 45, 16). (Emphasis added)
In addition to the extent of G-d's delegation of power to the "Children of Israel" does the Koran underline the boundary of the Land? The answer is positive: "And We caused the people (Jews) who had been oppressed to inherit the east and west of the (Holy) land on which We had bestowed blessing; the good word of the Lord was fulfilled upon the Children of Israel for their patience..." (Koran - Surah 7, 137). " O, my people, enter the Holy land which Allah hath written down as yours and turn not back, to your rearward so as to be rendered losers "(Koran - Surah 5, 21) " There after We said to the Children of Israel: "Dwell in the land, and when the promise of the Hereafter comes, We shall bring you all in a brunch" " (Koran - Surah 17, 104) (emphasis added).
The intention of those who proposed to confer sovereignty to G-d, was
indeed to make sure that no earthly power exercise sovereignty
exclusively over Jerusalem. But giving the sovereignty over Jerusalem
to G-d, legally implies that Jewish Law must apply. Are Jews,
Christian and Muslim inhabitants of the Holy city ready for that?
_______________________
Michel A. CALVO - Attorney
Doctor in Law of International
Organizations and International
Economic Relations
Certainly this is all food for thought as the dividing lines are drawing tighter! Blessings, --Gary
(Dr. GR Collett)
*Hebraic Roots Learning Center, PO Box 11388, Jerusalem 91113, Israel
*Jerusalem Ministries International, USA Offices: PO Box 1667, Everett, Wa. 98201
*USA and Israeli non-profit organizations
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From: James Trimm
To: heb_roots_chr@hebroots.org
Subject: Quran supports Jewish Israel and 3rd Temple
QURAN SUPPORTS JEWISH ISRAEL AND 3RD TEMPLE
THE FOLLOWING SHOULD NOT BE MISUNDERSTOOD AS AN ENDORCEMENT OF THE QURAN:
Most people know that the Temple Mount in Jerusalem is Holy to both Jews and Muslims. Many people have been led to believe that the location is equally important to both religions. This is actually not the case. The Temple Mount is the central holy location in Judaism. The central holy location for Islam is the Ka'aba Shrine at Mecca. So why is the Temple Mount in Jerusalem holy to Islam? This location is deemed as holy in Islam because Mohamed is believed by Muslims to have been transported there in a vision. This vision is recorded in Surah 17 of the Quran. However if most Muslim's REALLY studied the Quran they would understand what Surah 17 actually teaches about the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.
Ayeh 8 in Surah 17 (Bani Israil) is the Quran's prescription for the Jewish return to the land of Israel and the building of the Third Temple (given the first and 2nd Temples referred to in verses 1 to 7 of Surah 17) on the Temple Mount where al-Aqsa and Dome of the Rock are.
The Quran claims that when Mohamed was taken to the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, he saw a Third Temple actually standing there. He saw this the Quran says in ayeh 1 becaus Allah was showing him his "signs." :
Glorified be He Who carried His servant [Mohamed] by night from the Inviolable Temple [in Mecca] to the far distant Temple [Jerusalem] the neighbourhood whereof We have blessed, that We might show him [Mohamed] Our signs! Behold, He, only He, is the Hearer, the Seer.
Ayeh 5 speaks of the Babylonian captivity and the destruction of the First Temple:
So when the time for the first of the two [Temples] came, We roused against you slaves of Ours of great might who ravaged (your) country, and it was a threat performed.
Ayeh 6 speaks of the return from the Babylonian captivity and the building of the Second Temple:
Then We gave you once again your turn against them, and We aided you with wealth and children and made you more in solidarity.
Ayeh 7 speaks of the destruction of the Second Temple:
(Saying): If you do good, you do good for your own souls, and if you do evil, it is for them (likewise). So when the time for the second (of the judgements) came (We roused against you others of Our slaves) to ravage you, and to enter the Temple even as they entered it the first time, and to lay waste all that they conqured with an utter wasting.
Ayeh 8 then begins:
"It may be that your Lord will have mercy on you..."
hinting at a further return to the land and the building of a third Temple, a Temple which the Quran says Mohamed saw as one of Allah's signs on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.
Then near the end of Surah 17 we read:
And We [Allah] said to the Children of Israel after him [Moses]: Dwell in the land; And when the promise of the hereafter comes to pass We [Allah] shall bring you [Children of Israel] as a crowd gathered out of various nations. (Quran Surah 17:104)
Thus the Quran seems to say that the Jewish return to the land and the building of the Third Temple SHOULD be seen by the Islamic world as a prophetic sign of Allah's sovereign mercy upon the Children of Israel and that Allah has promised the Children of Israel that they will be regatered from the nations to dwell in the land! Moreover the Quran teaches that the very reason this loaction is "blessed" is because the building of a third Temple there will be a "sign" that Allah has had mercy on the Children of Israel and gathered them out of various nations to dwell in the land!
James Trimm
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