The Cost of Peace and Security

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. 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" in a building in Mount Zion to remember the institution of the last supper by Jesus, we passed by the Chamber of the Holocaust. Unfortunately, we did not enter to view the content as this was not within the itinerary. This Chamber of the Holocaust serves as a constant reminder of the suffering of the Jewish people. Today, the aim of some of Israel's neighbours to wipe this nation from the face of the earth is still very real to the Israelis. Israel has no illusion about what Iran might do in the event that the Iranians manage to build an atomic bomb.

 

Israel honours individuals who risked their lives to protect its people. While walking around Mt. Zion, I saw a directional sign with the words "Oskar Schindler" near the bus parking lot. I remembered that this German was made famous by the movies "The Schindler's List". He was recognized to have saved many Jews during Nazi's era and he was honoured by Israel and declared as "Righteous Among the Nations". His remains is buried in a grave in Mount Zion after he died on 9 October 1974. He is the only member of the Nazi party honoured in this way. His grave is located near the bus parking lot near the Zion Gate at the southern wall of the old city.

 

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, the greatest sorrow of the religious Jews is to see the site of the Temple Mount (Mount Moriah) is still being occupied by a mosque. Each day, they weep and pray at the Wailing Wall for the day when they can see the restoration of their Temple on Mount Moriah once again.