The Lebanese Mufti Sheikh Dr. Mohammad Rasheed Qabbani said today to the Muslims of the world to be ready to protect Jerusalem and the Holy Land.While this is normal Arab-speak, it is hard not to be struck by the contrast of how the two sides speak about Jerusalem.
The Mufti Qabbani, in a letter addressed to the Muslims and the Lebanese on the anniversary of Isra and Mi'raaj, the connotations of this anniversary to emphasize the importance of Jerusalem and the sanctity of the place where God Almighty.
He added that this evidence shows what should be the Arabs and Muslims in every age and era, it is ready to preserve the holy land in Jerusalem and Palestine, and protection and disinfection of the occupiers.
Compare:
Palestinian Authority Spokesman Nabil Abu Rudaina said that Palestinian Authority will not accept any deal that does not include Jerusalem since it is considered a red line.With:
President Shimon Peres, following Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Vice Prime Minister Chaim Ramon, has become the latest mainstream politician to intimate that Jerusalem must be divided.Yes, under the Kadima government it is now the Jews who are trying to give away parts of Jerusalem and the Arabs who seem to love it.
Ironic that these are both reversals of traditional positions, as Arabs historically ignored Jerusalem and Jews venerated it.
One can only pray that the current government falls, and fast. Not only is it suicidal but it spits in the face of 2000 years of longing, let alone the brave soldiers who recaptured Jerusalem in 1967.
When is the Israeli government going to articulate its own red lines as passionately as the Arabs do? There was a time when Israel had red lines, and they have gone by the wayside, one by one, by the current disastrous and borderline traitorous ruling party.
If the two sets of red lines do not intersect anywhere, that is not a reason to unilaterally eliminate yours. On the contrary, it is reason to protect it more.