The title of this essay is the slogan of this blog. In the very first post to this blog, some 17 years ago, I wrote that establishing Jewish religious freedom on the Temple Mount will help secure long term peace. Unlike other faiths, Judaism has but one religious center in the world, and that place has remained so for some 3000 years. Jerusalem. Today, I wish to explain why acknowledging this fact strengthens the cause of peace. The reason that prophecy shows that a third temple on Mount Moriah is a seal of eternal World peace, is because of the great advancement in World civilization this will represent.
Some 12 years ago I wrote that International Recognition of Jewish freedom of religion dates back to ancient times, since the days of Cyrus, the Great. Implying, that if Jews had a right to rebuild their Temple on Mount Moriah then, when they were subservient to another country. How much more so, logically, must Israel have a right to build a Temple in the midst of their capital city, when International Recognition already granted them the right to independence in their homeland.
Now please be aware that there exists an economy of attitudes. If one loves, they do not hate. If they love a little, there could still be resentment there. If they wish to love a lot, they have to get past that resentment. If an abuser acknowledges the rights of the abused to not be hurt by them, then the most fundamental philosophic change has occurred. If the abuser had used a club to beat their victim with, there can be no greater sign of actualized remorse than to hand that club over to the erstwhile victim. "Not only am I am sorry, but I will never do that again, and here is the greatest sign of it that I can think of."
For decades the Jordanian Moslem Waqf condoned the use of the holiest site in Judaism as a staging ground to attack Jewish worshipers at the Western Wall. Israeli generosity at sharing their holiest site, was not acknowledged. Islamic radicals on the Mount took advantage of Israeli generosity, and tried to make Israel bleed over it. That cycle repeated innumerable times.
But there is an economy of holiest places on Earth. To Muslims, it is Mecca and Medina. No other city in the World can be claimed to be their holiest city. To the Jews, it is the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. No other city in the World can be claimed to be their holiest city. Biblical prophecy calls for all of Judea and Samaria to be a part of Israel (Ezekiel, chapter 48.) That includes most centrally, the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, "And He said to me, Son of man, [this is] the place of My throne and [this is] the place of the soles of My feet where I shall dwell in the midst of the Children of Israel forever, etc." (Ezekiel, 43:7)
Yet the secular government of Israel allowed the partitioning of Israel's rights to the land to continue long after God granted Israel victory and restored sovereignty over the Temple Mount, during the Six-Day War.
There is also an economy of security. If the partitioning of the Temple Mount from the Western Wall and free Jewish religious expression enabled terrorism. The economy of security would indicate that unified religious freedom by Jews on the Temple Mount would end danger during prayers in that holiest of places.
I wrote further, 17 years ago that, "Therefore in the true spirit of International Law, religious freedom is in fact a Jus Cogens (Fundamental international law). And those who wish to prevent future religious extremism should support the full recognition of religious freedom as a inalienable right, protected fully by the rights of Jus Cogens. Therefore the Israeli retention of Greater Jerusalem and the Temple Mount represents a Jus Cogens for the Jewish people."
Secular forces have striven to keep religious freedom out of the discussion of human rights. But not being attacked during peaceful assembly is certainly a clear human right. So perhaps now you too can see Jerusalem as a human right of the Jewish people, as I do.
The prophets of Israel already told us this long ago. It would be a boon for peace if this was a universally accepted concept. May it soon be so, by the grace of God.
