Losing the Identity

When the 1967 Six Day War came to an end the Moslems, despite losing control of Jerusalem, were allowed to keep the Temple Mount with its two Mosques and to continue to worship without any restriction from the Israeli government. Israel on the other hand had the monumental task of repairing what was left of some 53 synagogues and cemeteries destroyed by the previous occupiers.

The same could be said of the many Christian sites that had fallen into disrepair and suffered from years of neglect. While many still complain, even lament about the “occupied territories”, Israeli control has never been a deterrent to any person of any faith to worship in their revered sites or to visit others.

So, when the information about the Tomb of the Patriarchs and Rachel’s Tomb being declared to be Mosques by an International board it really sent a harsh message. The two sites spoken of have deep significance to the three main religions of the region and as such a declaration is hard to comprehend by both Jews and Christians.

Since this occupation comes under the blanket of the autonomous Palestinian area and the two-state coexistence is based on mutual respect and cooperation one must ask, what happened? When these types of events are allowed to go unchallenged the once open nation of Israel starts to take on a whole new complexion, one exclusive of Jews and Christians, and in the long run, a loss of identity for Israel and the world.