Jerusalem and the USA's Presidential Candidates

 Nadene Goldfoot                                                    

Bernie and Hillary, the only 2 presidential candidates of the Democrat Party,
Hillary, first to speak at AIPAC Meeting; Sanders, only Jewish candidate, who just vilifies Israel, naturally had scheduled a speaking engagement elsewhere out in the West and didn't attend.  I saw and heard him  speak about Israel on TV and was so angry that I had to throw my rolled up anklets at the TV screen.  I couldn't take his tearing down Israel and changed the channel.  He just repeated Palestinian rhetoric.  

Peter Roff reminded us after the AIPAC meeting where Hillary Clinton was the first to speak, " that she has been our nation's lead diplomat under what has been characterized as the most anti-Israel administration ever to occupy the White House, and she has a lot to answer for.  Her record shows she has not been a friend of Israel.  She has been an integral part of 2 administrations, telling us of this constantly as a reason for being president.    The administration tried to force Israel into a dangerous land-for-peace deal.  This is where political operatives close to the president engineered the election of Labor Party's Ehud Barak as prime minister. They helped to open an office and promoted him against Netanyahu.  Then, the administration has made a devil's bargain with Iran that jeopardizes Israeli security."   Peter Roff is a U.S. News & World Report contributing editor and longtime observer of the Washington scene who wrote about this.  .                             

Menorah in front of Knesset in Jerusalem

One thing she is not in agreement with Trump or Cruz is that she would NOT move the American embassy in Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.  She thinks this would stir up the Palestinian Arabs and cause them to become violent.  Trump and Cruz are ready to do this much desired act by Israelis as soon as they become presidents, Cruz on the very first day of taking office. 

                                                                            

Jerusalem, where 3 religions come together; Jewish, Christian, Muslim.
 Under Israeli law, all are safe.

A miracle happened in 1967.  Egypt and  Arab states (Jordan, Iraq, Syria) with Soviet Union spreading false rumors instigating them,  and all their soldiers and war machines attacked Israel on June 5, 1967 and after 6 days, had lost the war.  By losing, Israel came into land they had lost to Jordan in the beginning of 1948 that was to be part of Israel in the deal with the British who held the mandate.  Britain had double-dealt to both parties.  

 "The capital of Israel is Jerusalem. That is where the seat of government resides, where the country's parliament stands and legislates and where the President, Prime Minister and Cabinet have their offices and meet."  

                                                             

Tower of David in Jerusalem-principal tower of the Jerusalem citadel, south of the Jaffa Gate.  It's base holds the foundation of the Phasael tower, erected by King Herod who was made king of Judea  by the Roman Senate (73 BCE to 4 BCE)  in memory of his brother.   Herod's towers were left standing after the siege of Titus, Roman emperor from 79-81 CE and served to protect the Roman camp in Jerusalem.  The identification with David's Tower dates back to the Byzantine Period.  Excavations were commenced there in 1969.   Herod had rebuilt the Temple in Jerusalem.  

In fact, Jerusalem has long been called The City of David. King David back 1010 BCE to 970 BCE had built this city and it was the capital of Israel and then was the capital of Judea  (southern Israel) until the Romans burned the city and Temple down in 70 CE.  It has more than political standing.  It is a religious icon and holy site to the Jewish people.  

 In 2008, when candidate Barack Obama declared,  "Jerusalem will remain the capital of Israel, and it must remain undivided."  Within 24 hours, he started backtracking."  This is how politicians make speeches to people when they want votes from them.  They lie a lot.  

"Later, his Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, tried to adhere to the official line, but she kept slipping. Visiting Jerusalem she talked about being "Here, in Israel." (Oops.) Even National Security Adviser Susan Rice slipped, tweeting "Great to be back in Israel." (Oops again)." Both Trump and Cruz feel this move to Jerusalem would show American strength of our conviction and are prepared to show Hamas terrorists that they are standing with their friends who don't go around committing acts of terrorism but are the only democratic good friend from the Middle East, and that they stand by their proven friends. 
                                                               

USA Embassy in Tel Aviv

 1967's war of all the surrounding Arab states against Israel was 49 years ago.  It will be 50 years ago when we have a new American president.  It's time that the USA recognize Israel's capital as Jerusalem.                                                                                                                     

Jews praying at Western Wall (Wailing Wall) 

Not only have Jews continued to live in Jerusalem for the past 3,000 years, but they have constituted the largest single group of people there since the 1840's.  In Jerusalem we find the Western Wall of the Temple, where Jewish people go to pray, as it is the holiest site in Judaism, though the entire city is sacred.                                            

Mosque of Omar (Dome of the Rock) sits in the center of the ancient Solomon's Temple area (al-Harim ash-Sherif), built by Caliph Abd al-Malik in about 738 to replace the temporary structure set up by Caliph Omar 100 years before.  It is situated on the traditional site of Mt. Moriah.
Policed by Jordan, they do not allow Jews here.  Jews found on this site are 2nd class citizens in their own capital and are in trouble.  

Jerusalem has NEVER served as a provincial capital under Muslim rule.  It has NEVER been a Muslim cultural center.  The only holy site to Muslims in Jerusalem is the majestic Dome of the Rock.  To Muslims, there is a great difference between Jerusalem and Mecca or Medina.  Jerusalem has no major significance to Muslims other than the fact that it is holy to the Jews who won when all the Arabs ganged up on Israel in 1967 and attacked but lost anyway!  

Year 1844 7,120 Jews...5,000 Muslims...3,390 Christians 

Year 1948  100,000 Jews.... 40,000 Muslims.....25,000 Christians

Year 1990  378,200 Jews....131,800 Muslims....14,400 Christians 

Year 2011(end of year)   804,400 Jews...293,000 Arabs (96% Muslims) 

Jerusalem now has the density of 1,484 per km2.   

Jerusalem's 2011 Jewish population was  8% of Israel's population.  Jerusalem's Arab population made up 18% of the total Arab population of Israel.     

Resource:  http://www.usnews.com/opinion/blogs/peter-roff/articles/2016-03-21/hillary-clintons-aipac-speech-doesnt-prove-she-is-a-friend-to-israel

Fox TV News 3/21/16

CNN TV News 3/21/16

http://www.cnn.com/2015/06/08/opinions/ghitis-supreme-court-jerusalem/

Myths and Facts-a concise record of the Arab-Israeli conflict by Mitchell G. Bard, Joel Himelfarb

http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Society_&_Culture/newpop.html

http://www.jiis.org/.upload/facts-2013-eng%20(1).pdf

http://www.cnn.com/2016/03/18/politics/bernie-sanders-aipac-speaking/index.html