Evening star., 1949-09-18
The Holy Places Issue

liz IVY sO\SS tSSuS
A draft statute regulating the future
status OF Jerusalem. drawn up by the U. N.
Palestine Cancellation Commission, is
considered attempt to solve one OF the
most important and controversial aspects
OF the complex problem of the Holy Land"
That term indicates the far-reaching
religious factor which cuts across the ma
tionaliStic aspirations of Jews and Arabs
And it eliminates in Jerusalem, which is
Holy City, for Christians, MoslemS and
Jews alike. In the city itself and the sur
rounding villages, including Bethlehem,
are located most of those holy places"
which are the objects of veneration and
pilgrimage for the devout of all three
faiths
The controversy is an ancient one. Mos
lem interference with pilgrimages to the
Christian holy places brought on the Cru
sades, while in modern times Russian
backing of Orthodox as against Roman
Catholic claims played its part in bringing
on the Crimean War. The international
character of Jerusalem was recognized
both by the Ottoman Empire and by the
Mandate assigned to Britain after World
War I by the League of Nations This
principle was reafnrmed by the General
Assembly of the United Nations in its
resolution of December II, 1948, and it is
upon that premise that the u NJ commits
sion has framed its draft statute, which
would set up special regime for Jerusalem
and vicinity under the full and perma-
nent authority" of the United Nations.
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ton, which is as indeterminate as it is
unsatisfactory. Jerusalem is today divided
between Jewish and Arab armed forces,
the division being determined by the out
come of the fighting last year in which
neither side could oust the other. The
delimitation is Illogical because certain
holy places, especially Jewish, are in the
hands of the opposite faith. Both Arabs
and Jews claim jurisdiction over Jerusa-
leEa, and those claims are not merely ir-
reconcilable but are equally opposed by
Christian churches, especially the Vatican,
as derogatory to Christian interests.
The draft statute would demilitarize and
internationalize the Jerusalem area. The
split character of the city between predom-
inantly Jewish or Arab settlement would
be recognized, and each party would be
granted local administration over its re-
spectiye quarters, but the authority of the
U. NJ, commissioner would be paramount
and immigration of Jews and Arabs into,
jerusalem would be restricted so that the
determined status should not be upset:
This proposal is certain to arouse oppo-
sition from both Arabs and Jews. Indeed,
the Israeli government has promptly re-
jected it, asserting that any plan which in
any degree separated Jewish Jerusalem
for the living body" of the state of Israel
would lead to trouble. On the Arab side,
the technical claimant is the Hashemite
Jordan government of King Abdullah,
whose troops occupy the quarters now in
Arab hands. But, of course. Abdullah is
backed in his policy by the rest of the
Arab world and by Moslem opinion gen.
orally.
The plan presumably will be thoroughly
aired before the next meeting of the Gen.
eral Assembly, at which Christian interests
will be voiced alongside the conflicting
claims OF Arabs and Jews. It should, of
course, be understood that even decision
by the Assembly would not settle the issue,
since such decisions are not binding on
nations. incidentally, it should be remem-
bered that, while Israel Is a member of
u n, Hashemite Jordan is not, its applica-
ton for membership being one of those
hung up by Soviet Russian veto. Yet an
Assembly discussion could be fruitful Ger
tainly, the present status of Jerusalem is
an unstable one, based as it is on mere
force. Sooner or later the issue must be
constructively dealt with.