Editorial
Good News — Bad News

Jerusalem — The Mideast Jewel

The Talk — Youth Asks

Our Roots
Angels — How Similar Are We?

What Do
Catholics and Jews Believe?

Enlightening News

News Items

Jewish and Catholic Icons

Archive

Jerusalem — The Mideast Jewel
The Future of Jerusalem

1. The Palestinian Liberation Organization, the political body that represents the Palestinian people, would like to establish an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital. The Israeli government remains committed to keeping Jerusalem as both the Israeli capital and an undivided city. It is based on Biblical statements.
2. The Islam ultra-religious right follows the leadership of Arafat’s Palestinian National Authority. It insists that God had given the entire land, as an Islamic religious endowment for all Muslims until the day of judgment. Therefore, no compromise in settling the Jerusalem question.
3. The Vatican position is that Jerusalem must be protected by a special internationally guaranteed statute. This means that the historical and material characteristics of the city as well as its religious and cultural characteristics must be preserved for all Jews, Christians and Muslims.

Finally, it is interesting to look at the population statistics as of 2001-2002. According to the statistical report by the Palestinian Central Bureau, there are 3,115,000 Muslims living in Israel including the West Bank and Gaza. Israeli Bureau of Statistics number the Jewish population at 4,441,000 in Israel. According to Catholic Church statistics there are only 150,000-160,000 Christians now living in Israel, a little less that 3% of the total population.

In conclusion, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam tell God’s love for the human person as the key to life and history. In all discussions about the Jerusalem question, all parties must be rooted in God’s love for every human being regardless of race, color, or creed.