Why is Jerusalem important to the state of Palestine?

Answer 1

The reason the West Bank and Gaza strip are important to Jerusalem may be lost in translation. Maybe the people still fight because what the elders have instilled in them the importance of the two.

Answer 2

Answer 1

The Gaza Strip has no importance to Israel at all. There are no Israeli settlements there, and Gaza doesn't have anything Israel wants.

But at the moment, there doesn't seem to be a way release control, due to extensive terrorism by Hamas.

Answer 2

The Gaza Strip is one of the few places where the British Mandate of Palestine did not overlap with the historically Jewish region called the Land of Israel. Similar to how Palestinians have never made direct references to Tel Aviv being sacred to them, Jews have never made references about Gaza being sacred to them. If however, you were to move the Gaza Strip upwards along the Israeli coastline by one space east (that is to say that the western border of the Gaza Strip would start where the eastern border is now), the Gaza Strip would have direct access to Tel Aviv, which is Israel's largest metropolis and which would even more severely hamper Israel's ability to negotiate amicably with the Palestinians. Also, you would be beginning to move into religiously significant territory.

By and large, for Israelis, the Gaza Strip is significant specifically because it is insignificant.

Answer 3

Jerusalem is important to Judaism because it is where God told Abraham to go to after Abraham "discovered" Judaism. It was promised as the Jew's homeland; and later Moses and the Jewish people escaped Egypt and went to Israel, the land of milk and honey. Later, it was where King Solomon built the Holy Temple supposedly where God resided. Jerusalem is important to Christianity because it is where many important events happened in Jesus's life such as the Last Supper. Jerusalem is important to Islam because it is where Muhammad ascends to heaven.

Jewish answer:1) Jerusalem is the center of Judaism. It is important to Jews because it was the site of the Akeidah (Binding of Isaac, in Genesis ch.22) and was later the seat of the Davidic Kings, when King David, Israel's greatest king, founded the dynasty that ruled Judah for much of its history, making Jerusalem the capital of the United Kingdom of Israel during his reign and that of his son, King Solomon. Most importantly, it was the location of the First and Second Temples, where offerings were made to God and where His presence dwelt in the Holy of Holies and was manifested in a number of miracles (Mishna, Avos ch.5).

Jerusalem is called the holy city by the prophets (Isaiah 52:1). It was where Jews would go three times a year to celebrate the holiest festivals (Deuteronomy ch.16). Even after the destruction of the Temple, the Temple Mount and adjacent Western ("Wailing") Wall, which still stands, is the holiest site in Judaism.

It is hoped and prophesied (Ezekiel ch.40-44) that one day a third temple will be rebuilt in Jerusalem and that the Messiah will come to it.

2) As a result of the historical connection between the Jewish people and Jerusalem, it was seen as an intrinsically holy city and a place where God's presence rested. Jerusalem has become representative of the connection with the Divine. In addition, Jerusalem is seen as the source of Divine Law, as demonstrated in many Jewish prayers: "Ki miTziyon tetze Torah udvar Hashem maYerushalayim - From Zion comes the Torah and the Word of God from Jerusalem"; Isaiah 2:3. Jerusalem is also representative of the Redemption of the Jewish people from their physical and spiritual exile, because this exile causes the melancholy that the Jewish people experience by being apart from God's presence. The Redemption, which Jews believe will be brought by the Messiah, will result in the Jewish people returning to Jerusalem.

3) According to ancient Hebrew tradition, Jerusalem is the site where God took the very earth from which Adam, the first man, was formed. Read Genesis carefully; Adam was not created in the garden of Eden; he was TAKEN there. Jerusalem, because it is the first place on Earth where the spirit of God dwelt, is considered sacred, and a direct link to God.

4) Judaism is the oldest monotheistic religion and Jerusalem has been its only holy site for 3000 years, ever since King Solomon built the first Jewish Temple there. The temple was destroyed by invading Babylonians and rebuilt at the same site (known as the Temple Mount) about 2500 years ago. It was then destroyed again when the Romans conquered Judea about 2000 yrs ago, killing a million Jews, expelling another million and enslaving the remaining million. All Jews who value their heritage feel ties to the holy land, where so many of their people struggled for the freedom to practice Judaism. At the same time, Jews believe that all people should be welcome there, regardless of faith.

5) Jerusalem is the eternal Jewish city, and a symbol of a future time of peace. Jerusalem is also the focal point of prayer of the Jews. When they pray, wherever they are, they face towards Jerusalem (Talmud, Berakhot 30a), with love and longing.

The sentiment is aptly expressed in Psalm 137:

"By the waters of Babylon, there we sat and wept as we remembered Zion...." It continues to say: "If I forget you, Jerusalem, let my right hand forget its wisdom."

For thousands of years we remembered our exile and prayed for its end. Now at least we can do so from "up close."