Articles and news stories from some of our most trusted sources about Israel and Jerusalem are often biased, either subtly or overtly, affecting the way in which we understand the world.
IMPORTANT QUESTIONS TO THINK ABOUT:
1. What is the history of Jerusalem and its population?
2. Why would a group want to distort that history?
3. In what way does knowing the truth about a situation influence the way we read or watch the news?
The following article appeared in the New York Times on Monday, April 4, 2005. It describes a situation in which Jewish investors from abroad have purchased two hotels near Jaffa Gate which were owned by the Greek Orthodox Church and run by Palestinians. (If not already registered, you may need to complete a short, FREE registration with the NY Times to view the story.)
Mystery of the 2 Hotels Embroils Greeks, Jews and Arabs-
While the article focuses on the Greek Orthodox Hierarchy and its role in Jerusalem, and might not seem relevant to our settings, there are a number of statements made in the article that are not accurate.
When articles appear in the New York Times, people tend to accept their description of situations as accurate. The following are several quotations from the article, along with sources that present an entirely different perspective. Please discuss this article with your family and friends as an example of how media can distort the truth.-
First Distortion: "For years, wealthy Jewish investors in Israel and abroad have sought to purchase East Jerusalem properties. The aim is to bolster the Jewish presence in the traditionally Arab part of the city. . . "
What is the history of the population of Jerusalem?
Part 1: http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/History/jerbible.html
Part 2: http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/History/jeru4.html
Part 3: http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/History/jerupop.html
Second Distortion: "Israel annexed East Jerusalem after capturing it from Jordan in 1967. . . While no Israelis were living in East Jerusalem in the years before the war, they now outnumber Arabs there, according to the Israeli government."
Was there a Jewish section of the Old City before 1967?
How did the Old City come under Jordanian control?
There were no Israelis in eastern Jerusalem only between 1948 and 1967 because in 1948, the Jordanians killed or expelled all the Jews living there, as well as destroying over 50 synagogues and Jewish institutions, many of which were hundreds of years old. In 1967, after being attacked by Jordan, Israel was victorious in pushing the Jordanians back, and in reuniting the eastern section of Jerusalem with its western side. Jews were once again able to live in eastern Jerusalem, as they had for thousands of years.
Part 1: http://www.jerusalem-archives.org/period3/3-5.html
Part 2: http://www.jerusalem-archives.org/period3/3-13.html
Part 3: http://www.jerusalem-archives.org/period3/3-18.html
Part 4: http://www.jerusalem-archives.org/period3/3-20.html
Part 5: http://www.jerusalem-archives.org/period3/3-22.html
Part 6: http://www.jerusalem-archives.org/period3/3-26.html
Some more thoughts that you may want to explore with your family and friends:
1. What was the nature of the city of Jerusalem after the Israeli War of Independence?
"From 1948-67, the city was divided between Israel and Jordan. Israel made western Jerusalem its capital; Jordan occupied the eastern section. Because Jordan "like all the Arab states at the time" maintained a state of war with Israel, the city became, in essence, two armed camps, replete with concrete walls and bunkers, barbed-wire fences, minefields and other military fortifications.x
Jewish Virtual Library, A Division of the American-Israeli Cooperative Enterprise
2. What led to Israel's reunification of Jerusalem in 1967?
"In 1967, Jordan ignored Israeli pleas to stay out of the Six-Day War and attacked the western part of the city. The Jordanians were routed by Israeli forces and driven out of East Jerusalem, allowing the city's unity to be restored. Teddy Kollek, Jerusalemxs mayor for 28 years, called the reunification of the city "the practical realization of the Zionist movement's goals."
Because Israel was defending itself from aggression in the 1948 and 1967 wars, international legal scholar Steven Schwebel wrote, "it has a better claim to sovereignty over Jerusalem than its Arab neighbors."
Jewish Virtual Library, A Division of the American-Israeli Cooperative Enterprise
3. What is the current situation of non-Jews (Moslems and Christians) and their holy sites in Jerusalem?
MYTH
"Israeli policy encourages attacks by Jewish fanatics against Muslim and Christian residents and their holy sites."
FACT
Israeli authorities have consistently attempted to stop fanatics x of all faiths x from desecrating religious sites or committing acts of violence near them. When it has been unable to stop such acts from occurring, Israel has severely punished the perpetrators. Allen Goodman, a deranged Israeli who in 1982 went on a shooting rampage on the Temple Mount, for example, was sentenced to life imprisonment.
In 1984, Israeli authorities infiltrated a Jewish group that planned acts of violence against non-Jewish sites and civilians. The terrorists were tried and imprisoned.
In 1990, the Temple Mount Faithful, a Jewish extremist group, sought to march to the Temple Mount on Sukkot to lay the cornerstone for the Third Temple. The police, worried that such a march would anger Muslims and exacerbate an already tense situation created by the intifada and events in the Persian Gulf, denied them the right to march. That decision was upheld by the Israeli Supreme Court, a fact communicated immediately to Muslim religious leaders and the Arab press. Despite Israel's preemptive action, "Muslim leaders and intifada activists persisted in inciting their faithful to confrontation." As a result, a tragic riot ensued in which 17 Arabs were killed.
Since that time, Israel has been especially vigilant, and done everything possible to prevent any provocation by groups or individuals that might threaten the sanctity of the holy places of any faith.
MYTH
"Israel has restricted the political rights of Palestinian Arabs in Jerusalem."
FACT
"Along with religious freedom, Palestinian Arabs in Jerusalem have unprecedented political rights. Arab residents were given the choice of whether to become Israeli citizens. Most chose to retain their Jordanian citizenship. Moreover, regardless of whether they are citizens, Jerusalem Arabs are permitted to vote in municipal elections and play a role in the administration of the city."
Jewish Virtual Library, A Division of the American-Israeli Cooperative Enterprise
Finally, if you want to see one of the most pro-Israel sites on the Internet, go to http://ChristianActionForIsrael.org/straight.html and read what they have to say. Their information is both supportive of Israelxs existence and accurate historically. While you may not want to have your children focus on this web site (there is at least one section that explains the Christological ramifications of Jerusalem for the end of days), you can print out a number of clear and concise articles for use in your discussions.
A big thank you to Betty Ann Ross, Coordinator of Educational Resources of the Board of Jewish Education, Nassau/Queens Center, who provided the information on this web page.
