Israel Matzav

A microcosm of the Middle East conflict

Evelyn Gordon describes the Machpeila Cave in Hebron as a microcosm of our conflict with the 'Palestinians.'

The Tomb of the Patriarchs in Hebron– one of the sites that UNESCO, at the PA’s request, recently declared exclusively Islamic – is a prime example. Under Israeli control, the tomb has been simultaneously an active synagogue and an active mosque for 44 years, a situation unparalleled anywhere else in the world. Most days of the year, it’s open to worshippers of both faiths; on a handful of Jewish and Muslim holy days, it’s open only to worshippers of the celebrating faith. At no point has Israel ever sought to make the site exclusively Jewish; it has willingly shared it with Palestinian Muslims.

Contrast that with the view of the Tomb expressed last year by one of Hebron’s most prominent Muslim clerics: “It is a pure Muslim holy place and there is no right for non-Muslims to be here or to pray here, and I’m against the presence of the Jews, even in the old city,” Haj Zeid al Ja’bari, general director of Islamic Religious Authorities in Hebron, told reporters. No willingness to share there.

As a father of eight children (bli ayin hara - warding off evil eyes), this sounds familiar to me. When the kids are little, they constantly behave int he same manner as the 'Palestinians' behave. Fortunately for Mrs. Carl and me, most of the kids have already grown up at least enough to share their toys, and the others are on their way God willing. The 'Palestinians,' who started to come to this country around 100 years ago, are still not capable of sharing.

What could go wrong?

Labels: Machpeila cave, territorial compromise

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 12:51 AM