Jerusalem and the Founders

Submitted by Caleb (United States), Apr 22, 2010 at 17:19

If mixing religion and politics is a fault it is a fault of which the present government of Israel is not entirely innocent. The religious parties who represent the ultra-orthodox cry that Jerusalem is all Jewish and never again can be divided. Where was all this religious fervor before 1967? There wasn't a trace of it. The founders of the State and the Yishuv before that were atheistic socialists. They didn't care a rag for Jerusalem, were contemptuous of the "pauper city" and the mendicants (**schnorers**) who resided there, many of whom were anti-Zionist **Agudath** members, anyway. On the contrary the Arabic name of Jerusalem, **Al Quds** (the Holy [city]) shows a long and cherished association between Islam and Jerusalem regardless of politics. Arabs have resided in Jerusalem as a numerical majority actually longer than Jews have and have built impressive structures there

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