The Cost of Peace and Security in Israel

Our tour bus entered Jerusalem on 30 May 2014. Upon reaching Mount. Olives, my wife and I disembarked and set foot on this mountain for the first time. This  place evoked many memories, chief among them is the agonising moment Jesus endured in his prayer at Gethsemane the night before his trial and crucifixion the next day.

 

From the mountain looking towards the southwest, we saw the old Jerusalem city - a city that was destroyed and rebuilt countless of times over the centuries with untold misery and suffering. Jerusalem has since the Six-Day War in 1967 been declared as the "eternal capital" of Israel after the latter captured the East Jerusalem in that war.

I was amazed to read the history of this nation and found it beyond comprehension that such a minute country could withstand the might of some of its neighbouring countries combined.

 

The very next day after Israel declared the establishment of this nation on 14 May 1948, its Arab neighbours invaded Israel and fought the Israelis army. In the end, Israel prevailed.

 

In the Six-Day War that lasted six days from 5 to 10 June 1967, Israel fought against three nations - Egypt, Syria and Jordan. Though greatly out-numbered in terms of troops and military hardware, Israel not only won but captured additional territories. In that war, Israel deployed 100,000 troops against the combined opposing troops of 240,000. Israel had 300 combat aircrafts, 800 tanks against 957 combat aircrafts and 2,504 tanks from the Arab nations. Israelis forces won a decisive war and captured the Gaza Strip and Sinai Peninsular from Egypt, the Golan Heights from Syria, West Bank and East Jerusalem from Jordan. This was another story of David verses Goliath (1Samuel 17) or the story of Elijah verses the 400 prophets of Asherah (1 Kings 18: 14-24)!

Map of Israel after the Six-Day War verses the current Israel.

 

Israel has since signed peace treaties with Egypt and Jordan. But peace with the other Arab neighbours is still elusive.

The high wall erected between Israelis territory and the Palestinian-controlled areas like West Bank and the Gaza Strip is testimony to the precariousness and fragility of the peace they have.

Armed troops were common sight in a number of the sites we visited. Here in the Dead Sea, solders moved freely among the tourists. The presence of solders though reassures the visitors of their safety but it also confirms the threat that tourists may have to contend with. With 3.54 million tourists visited Israel in 2013, any let down in security may cost the country dearly.

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After spending time in the “Upper Room” on Mount Zion - traditionally remembered as the site of Jesus’ institution of the Last Supper - we walked past the Chamber of the Holocaust. Unfortunately, our itinerary did not allow us to enter and view its exhibits. This modest but powerful memorial serves as a solemn reminder of the unimaginable suffering endured by the Jewish people during the Holocaust. For Israelis, however, remembrance is not only about the past - it also shapes their perception of present threats. The fear of annihilation remains deeply ingrained, especially as some of Israel’s neighbours continue to voice calls for its destruction. In particular, Israel harbours no illusions about Iran’s intentions should it succeed in developing a nuclear weapon, viewing such a prospect as an existential threat to the survival of the Jewish state.

 

Israel deeply honours those who risked their lives to protect the Jewish people during times of persecution. While walking around Mount Zion, I noticed a directional sign marked “Oskar Schindler” near the bus parking area. It immediately reminded me of the German industrialist whose story was immortalized in the film Schindler's List. During the Holocaust, Schindler is credited with saving the lives of more than a thousand Jews by employing them in his factories, shielding them from Nazi extermination. For his extraordinary courage and humanity, Israel recognized him as “Righteous Among the Nations.” After his death on 9 October 1974, Schindler was laid to rest in Mount Zion - the only former member of the Nazi Party to be honoured in this way. His simple grave, located near the Zion Gate along the southern wall of the Old City, remains a place of remembrance and gratitude for those who know his remarkable legacy.

 

Israelis will do whatever it takes to ensure that the peace and security of their nation will not be compromised.

An aerial view of the Wailing Wall and the Al Aqsa Mosque.

Photo downloaded from Internet site.

Today, one of the deepest sorrows for religious Jews is the reality that the holiest site in Judaism - the Temple Mount (Mount Moriah) - remains occupied by the Islamic shrine and mosque complex. For them, this sacred ground is where both the First Temple built by King Solomon and the Second Temple once stood, before their destructions in antiquity. Each day, countless Jews gather at the Western Wall - often called the Wailing Wall - pouring out their prayers and tears with the hope that one day the Temple will be restored on Mount Moriah, ushering in a time of spiritual renewal and fulfillment of prophecy.