#SUNBURST: THE BATTLE FOR JERUSALEM
Jerusalem; a city considered holy by 3 of the world big 5 religions is rich in the history of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Attacked 52 times, besieged 23 times, destroyed at least twice, captured and recaptured 44 times, Jerusalem is no stranger to conflict and violence.
The earliest evidence of human settlement on Jerusalem was about 5,000 years ago when the city known as Urusalim, meaning “Foundation of Shalem (God).” was ruled over by ancient Egyptians.
ABRAHAM AND JEWISH INVASION
Hebrew Patriarch; Abraham claimed God had promised a land filled with milk and honey to him and his descendants – the land of the Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites, Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaites, Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites and Jebusites.
However, Jerusalem was not captured by the Jews until about 1000 BCE (3,000 yrs ago) when King David captured Jerusalem of then mixed population called the Jebusites. Thereafter, Jerusalem was made the capital of Jewish kingdom of Israel and Judah by King David.
Interestingly, Jerusalem was made a holy city, and the first by a monotheistic religion by David’s son; King Solomon whom built the first Jewish temple on the city.
Turbulence followed upon Solomon’s death – secessions, Egyptians, Philistines and Arabian invasions, to total destruction of the temple by King Nebuchadrezzar of Babylon, yet the status of Jerusalem as Jewish Holy city remained unscathed. Not even Alexander the Great’s conquests and Greek occupation of Jerusalem could change that status.
ROMAN RULE AND CHRISTIANS’ TAKEOVER
The capture of Jerusalem in 63 BCE by Pompeii opened a new era for rampaging Roman empire. Temple Mount was reconstructed and enlarged at the early Roman reign by maverick Herod whom was of Jewish faith but warmed himself to the hearts of Roman rulers that he was appointed the Governor of Galilee and later puppet king of Judea under the Roman Empire. He established some Jewish traditions like The Jewish Council of Elders known as Court of Sanhedrin and introduction of voluntary pilgrimage to Jewish Holy sites, but his son who took over after his death fell out with Roman rulers, and that position was replaced with the post of Roman Procurator. The famous or infamous Pontius Pilate who put Jesus of Nazareth to death around the year 34 CE for series of allegations also served as the 5th Roman Procurator. And from there birthed Christianity.
Christians were derided, persecuted, and remained at the fringes until the conversion to Christianity of Emperor Constantine The Great around 4th century CE. Christian shrines sprang up throughout Jerusalem including the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. This development also opened up for the first ever Christian pilgrimage to Jerusalem. As Roman state religion, Christianity prospered with more churches and monasteries built. However, the invasion of Jerusalem, gross massacre of its inhabitants and destruction of churches in 614 CE by the Persians brought the Christian domination to an abrupt end.
ISLAMIC CONQUESTS
After Prophet Muhammad founded Islam in 610 CE, it spread quickly and in 638 CE, Muhammad’s lieutenant – the Caliph Umar I brought the first Islamic rule over Jerusalem, repairing the ruined Temple Mount and converting it to an Islamic worship center. Subsequent Islamic regimes built the Dome of the Rock and also declared the city holy for Muslims. For the first time Jerusalem was co-habited by adherents of 3 Monotheistic religions.
Shifting policy of friendliness to belligerence of Muslim rule began with Caliph al-Ḥākim who ordered the destruction of Christian shrines in 1010 and triggered an alert in the Christian world.
CYCLES OF CAPTURE AND RECAPTURE
Mobilized in what was termed The first Crusade, Christians under the forces of Godfrey of Bouillon invaded and captured Jerusalem, unleashing terror against Muslims and Jews in 1099, while converting Muslim shrines to Christian Churches.
The idea that he who rules Jerusalem rules the world had gained popularity that its scramble became fierce not just for religious supremacy battles but for global political power tussle.
The capture and recapture of Jerusalem between Christians and Muslims continued until 1517 when the Ottoman sultan Selim I conquerd the city and established a Turkish regime that lasted 400 years.
By 19th century, the battle for Jerusalem had developed into real power struggle with European powers like Russia, France, Italy etc showing greater interest in the city’s affairs.
Coinciding with the era of European expansion and Jewish migration, the Muslims in Jerusalem were again reduced to minority by 1890 after centuries of dominance.
A new era began when during World War I, British forces entered Jerusalem in December 1917 and sacked forces of Ottoman Empire, effectively ending the Muslim rule of the city tll date. British rule was marred with revolts and resistance from both Arab Muslims and Jews who waged deadly campaigns even through World War 2.
MODERN JERUSALEM
Large scale violence between Arabs and Jews were very common and efforts for a lasting peace failed. Following the withdrawal of British forces on May 14, 1948, state of Isreal was proclaimed and the First Arab-Isreali war broke out that lasted till November 1948.
No love lost between the Jewish state of Isreal and its Muslim neighbors who are still very aggrieved about lost of control over Jerusalem and its environs.
And the fact that each group that had governed Jerusalem in the past and lost is still aggrieved, and hopes to reclaim it someday means the city may never know peace as long as humans exist on this planet.
May Lights Shine On Our Paths.
EoR
#SUNBURST is random thoughts of EoR published every Saturday.
