Jerusalem: The Eternal Capital of Israel!

Jerusalem: The Eternal Capital of Israel!

A Commentary by J. D. Longstreet
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There has been much talk lately of creating a state of Palestine with Jerusalem, as it's capital city. Many of us take a dim view of this approach to peace between Israel and the so-called Palestinians.

Jerusalem is known to many as "The City Of David." (Actually only the southeastern portion of The Old City is the historic "City of David". But to many Jews and many evangelical Christians the entire city of Jerusalem is recognized as "The City of David.") Jerusalem is at the heart of Jewry no matter where on the face of the globe a Jew happens to be.

Jerusalem can NEVER be the capital city of a non-existent state known as "Palestine." NEVER! Even if the world finally has it's way and declares such a thing as a Palestinian state, the city of Jerusalem will forever remain the capital city of Israel.

Here are some facts a few minutes research on the Internet will reveal:

Jerusalem has been inhabited since at least 3000 BC. It was originally built around a water source known then as the Gihon Spring, to the south of what is known today as the Temple Mount. King Solomon expanded the limits of the city beyond that area known as the City of David.

There are those who will argue that Jerusalem did not exist at the time of David or the time of his son, Solomon. I respect their right to believe what they will, but I choose to believe that it did. See, I am one of those old "Hard Heads” who maintain the plausibility or validity of the Biblical account of a conquest by King David who, as described in the Bible, captured the city by climbing upwards through the ancient water system at the Gihon Spring.

It was around the year 1010 BC, when King David defeated the Jebusites in Jerusalem and decided to make the city his administrative capital. David brought the Ark of the Covenant to the city.

When David brought the Ark to Jerusalem he intended to build a great Temple for God as a permanent resting place for the Ark of the Covenant. According to Jewish tradition, as reported in the Bible, David was not permitted to build the Temple because he had been a warrior. Building the Temple would fall to his son, Solomon. The Temple became the focus point of Jewish veneration from that point to today.

We would do well to remember that Jews have been living in Jerusalem continuously for nearly two millennia. They make up the largest single group of inhabitants there since the 1840's. Today, the total population of Jerusalem is approximately 662,000. The Jewish population in areas formerly controlled by Jordan exceeds 160,000, outnumbering Palestinians in "Arab" East Jerusalem.

Ever since the day King David declared Jerusalem the capital city of Israel some 3,000 years ago, the city has been at the center of Jewish existence. The last remaining wall of the ancient Jewish Temple, the Western Wall, located in the Old City, is the holiest site in Judaism. It is the object of Jewish veneration and the focus of Jewish prayer. For thousands of years, three times a day, Jews have prayed, “To Jerusalem, thy city, shall we return with joy,” and they have repeated the Psalmist's oath: “If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning.”

And, yes, Muslims also revere the Holy City. According to Islamic belief, the prophet Mohammed was miraculously transported from Mecca to Jerusalem, and it was from Jerusalem that he made his ascent to heaven. But, please remember, even though Muslims controlled the city for more than a thousand years, Jerusalem was never the capital of any Arab entity, or country.

For Christians, on the other hand, Jerusalem is also thought of as holy. It is where Jesus lived, where he preached, where he died, and, most importantly, where he was resurrected. Even though it is the heavenly and not the earthly Jerusalem that is emphasized by The Church, places mentioned in the New Testament as sites of Christ’s ministry and passion attracted pilgrims and Christian worshipers for centuries and they continue to do so today.

Jerusalem can NEVER be the capital city of Palestine. Never!

Now, I’ll do a little prophesying myself. It is not too difficult to see a near future in which the UN recognizes a state of Palestine. And it will make no difference whether Jerusalem is designated the capital city of the new state of Palestine. Here’s why: At the first international incident between the state of Palestine and the state of Israel, Israel will invade, conquer, and occupy the new state of Palestine and very soon it will become a part of the newly enlarged country of Israel… again!

If the US really wants to do something constructive toward peace between Israel and the so-called Palestinians the best thing it can do is get out of Israel’s way. Allow Israel to take care of business and, fairly soon, the Palestinian problem will be solved. There will be no peace between Israel and the so-called Palestinians as long as BOTH of them exist on this earth. Remove the Palestinians and –Walla! — THAT problem solved.

Maybe Israel should consider the grant of statehood, to a state called Palestine, as a boon, really -- sort of a gift from the UN to Israel. It would open the door for Israel to solve their ongoing problem with the so-called Palestinians once and for all.

However, I personally believe, as do the Evangelical Christians, that Israel will never know peace until the Prince of Peace returns. Then, that’s just me.

There is a piece of scripture, from the Bible, of which, I’d like to remind the Obama Regime. It reads thusly: “And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.”… Genesis 12:3. Oh, may I suggest the White House fax this little snippet of scripture over to the State Department and share it with them?

Happy Hanukah!

J. D. Longstreet