Jerusalem Sovereignty Quotes
Jerusalem has been disputed by the Israelis and the Arab nations surrounding the city. Both want it as their capital, and both have historic and religious claims on it. When Jerusalem was under Arab control. However no Jew was allowed in the City, even to pray at the holiest of Jewish places, the Western Wall. When Israil gained control, there has been not only free access for Muslims, but they gave the Muslims control over the Temple Mount--holy to both religions. So for Rabin, if Israell does not control the city, Jews will not have access as has been shown by recent history, and the United Nations has deminstrated so often, they will not use force to maintain their committments to protect people or assure access to areas.
The Resolution to which he referred was Security Council Resolution 181 which Internationalized Jerusalem. The Israeli’s had wanted it for their capital. The Arabs wanted it. Christians had claims on parts of it. So the UN declared it an International City. The Israelis grudgingly accepted the resolution, but the Arab Armies attacked the new state of Israel. They were repulsed from most of Israel but they did take Jerusalem. The UN chose not to implement its own resolution and the Arabs controlled Jerusalem thereafter until they again tried to invade Israel again. This time they lost badly and the Israelis took Jerusalem and established it as their capital and Jews could pray in Jerusalem for the first time since 1948. Unlike the Arabs who kept the Israelis and other Jews out of the city when they controlled it, the Israelis turned over control of the Islamic holy places to Muslims and allowed Muslims access to them. The status of Jerusalem was still contested in the early 21st century.
