Link Harvest: An American Muslim Visits the Settlers

[osewalrus]

A good read. Rather like looking into a mirror.
https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2018/06/a-muslim-among-the-settlers/559145/

"I prayed for all those Israelis and Palestinians suffering from a permanent state of rage, hijacked by this small volcano the size of New Hampshire, which simultaneously inspires love and loathing, madness and inspiration. As a result of engaging with Zionists, I found that once you allow a space for conflicting narratives, even those that might repulse you, the characters take up room in your mind and your heart. You can no longer unsee or unfeel them. You have to negotiate their presence without compromising your core principles. Yossi Klein Halevi had somehow conjured two dozen ways that Muslim extremists could destroy his people—but he also kissed my Muslim babies and looked at them lovingly, yearning for grandchildren."


I would add just one thing. If we had a two state solution, would I ever be permitted to visit the Jewish Holy sites on the Palestinian side? Would the security and safety of the Jewish Holy  sites be preserved? Or would they be vandalized and destroyed?

The experience from 1949-67 does not provide a particularly encouraging response. the terms of the 1949 cease fire guaranteed access to the Holy places -- which placed the most significant Holy places on the Jordanian side of the green line (Jordan annexed the West Bank following the cease fire and designated East Jerusalem, aka Al Quds, the capital of East Jordan. The annexation did not provide Jordanian citizenship to the Palestinian refugees, and just about all the existing refugee camps date from this period). The result was the total exclusion of all Jews . -- not simply Israelis with Israeli passports, but all Jews -- from the Holy places. It also prompted a fair amount of vandalism -- some casual, some more calculated and efficient.

This is not something that secular folks tend to understand as a motivator -- at least not on the Jewish side.

Comments

[gingicat]

My Dad suggests that the Temple Mount in general, and the Western Wall in particular, have become an idol in all the worst ways.

[pocketnaomi]

Interesting idea. I've often wondered how pikkuach nefesh applies to things like maintaining access to the holy places. If it would save lives to do so, have we an obligation to give them up?

[gingicat]

The existence of a Jewish nation is still saving Jews, and that’s important. I just wish that sensible people were working on a solution.

[osewalrus]

This is a complicated question. For one thing, how obvious or remote is the danger? What is the assurance that giving them up "saves lives." Pikuach nefesh tends to require a rather clear cause and effect.

But this is generally the source of debate within the Orthodox/traditional community on land-for-peace.

[vettecat]

Interesting article - thanks for sharing.

[cellio]

Yeah, concessions for peace hasn't worked out well so far; the Palestinians make whatever promises suit them so they can take take take, and then they go back to their old ways. I would expect that *pikuach nefesh* requires some credible belief that the *nefesh* will in fact be preserved. But, as osewalrus says, it's a complicated question.

[pocketnaomi]

Yes, and I was not taking as a given that it *does* clearly save lives to give up access to the holy sites. I just wondered whether, *if* we had solid evidence that it did, we would have a religious obligation to walk away from them. I find that kind of ethical dilemma interesting, at least when it's theoretical (and for now, I take it as theoretical precisely because we can't know -- too many factors).