To the editors and readers of the Christian Science Monitor I am both offended and confused by the statements published in the Christian Science Monitor by John Whitbeck. Is it only Mr. Whitbeck or is your editorial board also ignorant of the presence of the Jewish people in the territory between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River thousands of years before the appearance of Islam? Can you think of any reason that the Christian world also holds this land sacred, other than the presence of the Jew Jesus there more than Six hundred years before the invasion and occupation of this land by Arabs, newly believing in Islam, from Arabia? Are the many churches and monasteries in this land to commemorate something to do with Mohamed, or are they an age old expression of the belief that the life and passion of the Jew Jesus took place in that very same area of the globe known to peoples of the ancient world including the Romans as Judea %26 Samaria? Today known as the state of Israel and the Palestinian Authority. Is there any other reason that Jesus traveled all the way from Nazareth, his family’s home, to Jerusalem, other than that the Holy Temple of his people, the Jews was situated there? Has Mr. Whitebeck and the Christian Science Monitor completely rejected the gospels which clearly place the events of the life of Jesus in that very same land where hundreds of years before, a young Judean named David son of Yishai became king, and conquered Jerusalem. Have you forgotten that it was David’s son and successor, Solomon who was privileged to build a temple in Jerusalem to the sacred deity, Yahova on that very land? Do you %26 Mr. Whitebeck have new evidence to reject the Holy Scriptures which for millennia have been the basic building blocks of the Christian faith, and which place the foundational events of that faith in the land between the river and the sea? What is the meaning of the word Christian in the name of your publication if you ignore and reject such basic tenants of that faith. Could it be that Rome or Canterbury are the true venues in which the Passion took place and therefore deserve your humble devotion? And I am offended that of all the people on this planet, the only ones which in Mr. Whitbeck’s opinion are undeserving of an independent national existence are the Jews.The analogy of the Europeans and the Natives of the Americas (North and South), is appropriate only in the reverse. It is the Jews like the Native Americans who were disposed of their lands by cruel and violent European invaders. The other significant difference is that the Jews succeeded in maintaining their identity and their commitment to the land and were able to return. I am offended that you do not seem to be aware of the most fundamental facts of history. The tragedy of the Nakba was a direct result of the rejection by the Arab people, including those living in the British Mandate of Palestine of the concept of partition, i.e. sharing. The unwarranted attack by the members of the Arab League on the newly declared state of Israel is the reason for the tragedy of the refugees and all that followed. We see clearly that even after the ending of the occupation of Gaza by Israel of both military and civilians the desire to engage in violence against the people of Israel does not end. The unprovoked attacks on northern Israel by forces in Lebanon (from which Israeli forces completely withdrew six years ago) is added evidence that the issue between Israel and the Arab/Muslim world has nothing to do with the 1967 war, with the presence of Jewish Israelis in Judea or Samaria or even in Gaza when they were there. I must also add that the emotional reaction provoked by Mr. Whitbeck extends beyond offended and confused and includes, grateful. Mr. Whitbeck makes clear in his statement there is an enormous difference between recognizing Israel’s existence” and “recognizing Israel’s right to exist.” This should alert us to the tendency for people, both Israelis and others to demand recognizing of Israel’s existence and see in that statement by Arab/Palestinian negotiators a clear and sufficient acceptance by the Arab world to warrant Israel’s gratefully agreeing to significant compromises of the security of its people. It should be understood from this accurate insight by Mr. Whitbeck that only when the Palestinians and the Arab/Moslem world truly understands and accepts the justice of the historical claim of the Jewish people to ANY of the land between the river and the sea that there can possibly be true reconciliation and peace. Historically the Jewish people have been willing to share not only its God but also its land. (787) Thank you – Yoram Getzler
