Jerusalem-forum@wanadoo.jo

Jerusalem the Universal Message: A historical background By Dr. Hazem Nusseibeh

UN Resolutions and Palestine

Peace Proposals

The city of Jerusalem has throughout recorded history been a focal point of multi-national attention, contention and conflict. Its international dimensions, however, have frequently been a source of affliction and suffering rather than a blessing to its indigenous and lawful inhabitants, since its founding by Melkisadik, priest-king of the Jebusites, a branch of the Canaanites, with whose God Almighty Abraham had a special affinity. The Jebusite Arabs founded the City, according to current available archaeological artifacts some 5,000 years ago, during the bronze age, and named it Uru Salem – the City of Peace. Among the discoveries of the 4,500 year old city of Ebla, in northern Syria which unearthed up to this day the close to 10,000 clay inscriptions of the great Syriac civilization, its name on the inscriptions is Uru Salema. The citadel of Uru Salem, which was known as the citadel of Sion on Mount Sion-- remained impregnable until King David, heralding from Hebron 3,000 years ago, succeeded in occupying it, by seizing its water supply, according to archaeologists and historians of the Holyland. It is known today as the Nebi Daoud hill-- whereupon is built an ancient Muslim mosque (the Nebi Daoud Mosque) and is greatly revered by Muslims, Christians and Jews.

Even during the peak of a short-lived Israeli hegemony over Jerusalem and the West Bank 3,000 years ago-- which lasted 73 years, according to Henry Cattan, author of The Palestine Question-- the Canaanites were the overwhelming majority in Jerusalem and the rest of Palestine side by side with the Philistines of the coast, the Phoenicians of Galilee and the Nabateans of east Jordan.

They all belong to the great amalgam of the Syriac civilization which gave the world, amongst other contributions, the alphabet, the agricultural revolution, sophisticated commerce and navigation, and the intensive yearning towards a universal God.

The name of Jerusalem in Arabic is al-Quds (meaning Holy) or Bayt ul-Maqdiss (The House of Holiness), and is an adjective of veneration. According to Islamic traditions and teachings, the Aqsa Mosque and the glorious Dome of the Rock, built on the great platform of mount Moriah (The Haram al-Shareef sanctuary) had been a holy spot since well over 5,000 years ago. The threshing floor which King David acquired from Araunah the Jebusite, was indeed a Jebusite holy place. In Islamic traditions, the Aqsa Mosque was built from time immemorial by the angels (to emphasize its sanctity) and, time-wise, it was co-terminous with the founding of the Ka’ba, Islam’s holiest spot by Abraham and his son Ishmael from Hagar his first wife.

With the advent of Islam, the Aqsa Mosque became the first Kibla towards which the faithful turned for prayers. This lasted for seventeen months whence, by divine revelation, the Kibla reverted to Mecca.

But, for the one billion adherents of the Islamic faith, throughout the world, it remains enshrined deeply in their consciousness as the first Kibla of Islam, the third holiest shrine and- the magnificent octagonal dome of the Rock- the spot from which the Prophet Muhammad made his nocturnal journey by night to the heavens, to witness God’s infinite and breath-taking creation; and, to lead the other prophets of the monotheistic faith – the People of the Book – in prayers, to the glory of God.

This is, indeed, an ecumenical message, addressed to mankind in its entirety, and is a continuum and completion of the great faiths of the two Abrahamic religions which preceded it, namely Judaism and Christianity.

But, it should be stressed that, when the Islamic Arab conquests took place in the 7^th century A.D. 638 and the Roman Empire was vanquished, there was neither a temple nor even a Jewish presence of any sort. It was the Muslim rule which allowed some of the Jews back, in the face of strong opposition from the people of the land.

Throughout its ages – old existence as Canaanite, Babylonian, Persian, Hellenic, Jewish, Byzantine, Roman, Islamic Arab and Ottoman – the latter two which existed since 1400 years, Jerusalem stood as the symbol and embodiment of universality, of unity in diversity, of concord and a cornerstone of world civilization. No one should be allowed to undermine this basic unity by exclusive claims which, alas, Israel pursues today. We shall see in the next page how Jerusalem prospered as Capital of Palestine under the British Mandate 1922 –1948. We shall also see how the United Nations faltered in taking up the challenge in preserving the integrity of Jerusalem.

March 11, 1999

Born in Jerusalem, Dr. Hazem Nusseibeh has held a number of prominent government posts. He was a representative of Jordan at the Mixed Armistice Commission. He was Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of the Royal Court and has served Ambassadorial posts to Egypt, Turkey, Italy, and Austria. He was also the Permanent Ambassador of Jordan to the UN.

Dr. Nusseibeh is author of various books, including The Ideas of Arab Nationalism, Palestine and the United Nations and A History of Modern Jordan.