Israel agreed to give up control of the West Bank and the Gaza strips in the Oslo peace accords. The Oslo peace accords also called for mutual recognition by both sides. However, the issue of Israel settlements and the building of the Gaza Wall has provoked controversy in the region. Israel built the wall to include the settlements and the Palestinian oppose the construction of the wall because of the security that will have to undergo to enter Israel. Unlike the United States, there is no rule against racial profiling and passing through a security checkpoint can take hours.
Today, peace is Jerusalem is a difficult thing to do. First, Israel will have to have the willpower to deal with the Israeli's living in the settlements because no peace will occur unless the settlement problem is solve. Another issue at stake is the wall. The wall might give a sense of security to Israel, but the Palestinians will be unlikely to compromise unless the boundaries of the wall are restored to the line set in the Oslo accords. The control by Hamas in the Gaza Strip will also complicate matters for peace in Israel. Hamas is considered a terrorist group by many nations and the last thing a terrorist group would like is peace in Israel. The United States has the power to exert its military might but using military power can lead nations with nuclear weapons to fire back. Today, warfare has more consequences because today's weapons can destroy the earth if they are used improperly.
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Tuesday: Week 10
In the early days of Jerusalem, the temple gives a physical presence. Ezekiel predicted the destruction of the temple when he states that god is mobile and you can be a Jew without a temple. The site of Jewish tradition, as a result, moved from the temple to the Wall. Today the Western Wall is considered the most holy site in all of Judaism. Some websites even allow you to send prayers to the Western Wall. The Western Wall basically replaced the temple in modern Judaism.
The two state solution is that the Jews and Palestinians both get their own states. The Peel Plan was an attempt to compromise and it was barely accepted by the Jews, but rejected by the Palestinians. However, the peel plan in retrospect was good for the Palestinians because the Palestinians only have control of the West Bank and the Gaza strip today. Today, the West Bank and Gaza strip is full of conflict and most Palestinians would rather have peace than fight for more land.
The two state solution is that the Jews and Palestinians both get their own states. The Peel Plan was an attempt to compromise and it was barely accepted by the Jews, but rejected by the Palestinians. However, the peel plan in retrospect was good for the Palestinians because the Palestinians only have control of the West Bank and the Gaza strip today. Today, the West Bank and Gaza strip is full of conflict and most Palestinians would rather have peace than fight for more land.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Turkish Jerusalem
The size of Jerusalem rapidly decreased after the Turkish obtained control of Jerusalem. Jerusalem became a place where people were exiled to during this period. However, despite the shrinking population of Jerusalem, the Jewish quarter continued to grow. The Ramban synagogues acted as the Jewish center. Part of the reason for the Jewish attraction to Jerusalem is the myth of the divine presence in Zion. Attitudes towards the Jewish were mixed, some rulers encouraged Jewish immigration while others banned Jews from the city.
After the destruction of the temple, myths about Jerusalem migrated to the Western Wall. The Western Wall is the retaining structure on which the temple was built. Today the Western Wall is considered the holiest site in Judaism. Therefore, prayers made in Jerusalem at the Western Wall hold a greater significance than prayers made elsewhere.
After the destruction of the temple, myths about Jerusalem migrated to the Western Wall. The Western Wall is the retaining structure on which the temple was built. Today the Western Wall is considered the holiest site in Judaism. Therefore, prayers made in Jerusalem at the Western Wall hold a greater significance than prayers made elsewhere.
Tuesday: Week 9
The Crusades started when a Roman pope encouraged citizens of Rome to travel to Jerusalem to take it back for the Muslims. Crusaders were granted pardon for their sins as a reward.The first group of Crusades were ill-prepared and suffered devastation losses when they traveled pass Turkey. However, increased funding for the Crusades eventually led to the control of Jerusalem by the Christians but the threat faced by the Muslims always remains. By now, the three religions all consider Jerusalem home and conflict is bound to arise as a result.
The group called the Teutonic Knights provided protection for the Crusaders. Initially the force was overwhelmed by the Muslims but funding from Europe increased their effectiveness. This group has became a source of legend for the Crusades, and the Teutonic Knights are associated for honor and bravery. Despite the efforts of the knights to stop the incoming waves of Muslims, the Muslims still regained control of Jerusalem one hundred years after the Christians took over.
The group called the Teutonic Knights provided protection for the Crusaders. Initially the force was overwhelmed by the Muslims but funding from Europe increased their effectiveness. This group has became a source of legend for the Crusades, and the Teutonic Knights are associated for honor and bravery. Despite the efforts of the knights to stop the incoming waves of Muslims, the Muslims still regained control of Jerusalem one hundred years after the Christians took over.
Friday, February 25, 2011
Thursday: Week 8
The Islamic period of Jerusalem starts in 638 CE when the Jerusalem is captured by the Muslims. The faith of Islam is divided into two sects: Shiites and Sunni. The Shiites are a kinship based caliphate and the Sunni people are a tradition-based caliphate. Initially, the Muslims did not allow Jewish settlement but they later allowed Jews to move back into the city.
The Islamic faith is made up of five traditions. One of the main traditions was that devote Muslims must pray five times a day towards Mecca. The prayer is directed at the Kaabam, a cube shaped, marble base. The kaaba used to contain hundreds of idols pre-Muhammad, but Muhammad removed the false idols. The removals of the false idols caused massive controversy and this action cemented the status of Muhammad in Islam.
One interesting thing to note is that one prayer made in Mecca is worth 100,000 elsewhere, a prayer made in Medina is worth 1,000 elsewhere, and a prayer made is Jerusalem is worth 500 elsewhere. This tells us that these places had a significant role in the growth of Islam.
The Islamic faith is made up of five traditions. One of the main traditions was that devote Muslims must pray five times a day towards Mecca. The prayer is directed at the Kaabam, a cube shaped, marble base. The kaaba used to contain hundreds of idols pre-Muhammad, but Muhammad removed the false idols. The removals of the false idols caused massive controversy and this action cemented the status of Muhammad in Islam.
One interesting thing to note is that one prayer made in Mecca is worth 100,000 elsewhere, a prayer made in Medina is worth 1,000 elsewhere, and a prayer made is Jerusalem is worth 500 elsewhere. This tells us that these places had a significant role in the growth of Islam.
Week 8:Tuesday
Herod died in 4CE. This period of Roman rule was characterized by Roman procurator and an ineffective government. Archelaus was one of the key figures after the death of was the ethnarch of Judah. He was highly ineffective and he ruled for less than 10 years. There were also two other tetrarch, Herod Antipas and Herod Phillip. Both of those rulers were more effective because they control less area and had fewer internal problems.
The coins minted during this period reflect the state of the society. After the defeat of Jerusalem by the Romans, the coins consisted of an image of Jerusalem. Propaganda of a king can also be achieved through minting. Having the image of a king on a coin can enhance the power of the king. The reason behind this is because people will look at the image of the king every time they buy something.
The coins minted during this period reflect the state of the society. After the defeat of Jerusalem by the Romans, the coins consisted of an image of Jerusalem. Propaganda of a king can also be achieved through minting. Having the image of a king on a coin can enhance the power of the king. The reason behind this is because people will look at the image of the king every time they buy something.
Week 7: Thursday
During the Byzantine period, a schism emerged between Judaism and Christianity. Jerusalem acted as a symbolic part of both religions. There were many NT apocalypses about Jerusalem, such as the temple came down and Luke 21: 20-24 predicted the future of Jerusalem. However, predictions in the Bible might have been written after the fact, and that is a question that divides many archaeologists.
Christianity also explained massive growth during this period. The Byzantine rulers of Jerusalem used Christianity to unify the kingdom. The Edict of Milan legalizes Christianity. Constantine had a massive influence on orthodox Christianity. One effect was the first Christian pilgrimage to Jerusalem, the new Axis Mundi. However, it is still important to remember to there was never an official religion in Jerusalem, and the leaders legalized Christianity to prevent religion from dividing the kingdom.
Christianity also explained massive growth during this period. The Byzantine rulers of Jerusalem used Christianity to unify the kingdom. The Edict of Milan legalizes Christianity. Constantine had a massive influence on orthodox Christianity. One effect was the first Christian pilgrimage to Jerusalem, the new Axis Mundi. However, it is still important to remember to there was never an official religion in Jerusalem, and the leaders legalized Christianity to prevent religion from dividing the kingdom.
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