Jerusalem, Israel and the Arabs .... by Jamil Shawwa

Now and not tomorrow, Israel and the Arab countries especially Jordan, Egypt- both have diplomatic relations with Israel- with Saudi Arabia and the Palestinian authority must start talking about Jerusalem- maybe they have, what do I know- the city of the three divine religions, the city of love, the city of the synagogues, the churches and the mosques. This city should be preserved as an international and historic landmark. I do not think that there are cities on earth more significant historically or religiously than Jerusalem, I said in previous pieces here how the city is destined to be inhibited by the three divine religions and by the followers of these religions. When you look at the big picture, you realize that this means almost the whole world past, present and future. Jerusalem is looked at and towards from Europe, Africa, Asia, the Americas, Australia, and that is the world. In China, Japan, South East Asia included as they have followers of the three divine religions. Now, the Arabs must drop their famous hypocrisy, pretension, and start the long march towards a historic finally peace between Islam, Christianity and Judaism. As I said before, Jerusalem will continue to be the capital of the State of Israel. In the same time, I said that Jerusalem in its eastern parts would be the future capital of the future state of Palestine. Jerusalem will always and it should be an open city, no barriers and no fences, no fights, and no terror, no destruction and no hatred. Start the dialogue now even before the final status on the West Bank and Gaza strip. We have four legitimate entities with the popular support to do it. The State of Israel, Egypt, Jordan and the Palestinian authority. Use the arts of negotiation with no prejudice, and set and talk, converse. It is not a dream, I do not like to dream it, I like to do it. I do not dream for peace between Israel and the Arabs, I want to make it happen. The voices of despair, darkness, terror will shut up for the last time- or they can continue to talk as long as they do not use violence- once the process starts. I know the Arabs, I have family in Gaza, Jordan, Egypt, Lebanon and in many  other Arab countries and of course here in the US- and I know Israel, I have as I said before very distinguished friends that I call family in the State of Israel, and I know how they long for peace. Again, Israel will be integrated in the new Middle East as a viable country with the state of Palestine in the West Bank and the Gaza strip. Israel will join the Arab League, needs to change the name though to something like The Middle East Union, MEU, and it will be fantastic for commerce, and the well being of the people of the Middle East. Enough- As the late Israeli Prime Minister, Yitzhak Rabin said- suffering. the Arab people in their vast majorities are the most affected by this condition in the Middle East, every excuse on earth is used in the Arab countries for not doing the right thing for their people which is the historic conciliation with the state of Israel. We can dwell on the past, cry on things that we do not control, continue to weep and call things Nakba or Naksa or we can stand up, and talk. You do not lose anything when you talk, but you lose everything even your own self-respect when you hide your face in the sand and pretend that nothing around you exist.