Always wanted to know about Jerusalem.
This book talks about the history of Palestine, both from religious and political stand point of view and why Jerusalem is so important to Jews, Christians and Muslims. The author keeps it in impartial tones while narrating the actions of people from these three religions and the possible reasoning behind their actions.
Really disheartening to see the conflicts among these people as most of them originate from the same ancestors and differ only because they chose to follow different religions. Initially Jews lived in Jerusalem, then Jesus lived, preached, and crucified in Jerusalem. After that Muhammad Nabi led Muslims to Jerusalem as told to him by God.
After Christianism become a major religion in Europe, Europeans started to take pilgrimage to Jerusalem. They were outraged that the Christians were treated second rate citizens in Jerusalem, their holy land and so informed the Pope. With the help of the Kings of Britain and France, Pope encouraged people to join Crusades led against Jews and Muslims in Jerusalem. This led to many Jews leaving Jerusalem to various parts of the world. However, Muslims stay in Palestine and fight the crusades. Arab Muslims lived in Palestine years and years.
The intolerancy towards Jews by the European Christians as they believed Jews killed Jesus (when Jesus himself is a Jewish born...) led to many injustices from denying the basic rights to killing them. During the first world war, Hitler's cruelty against Jews brought sympathy towards Jews by British and other Europeans even though they themselves were intolerant towards Jews. Jews provided support to every country involved in World War I in the hope that somebody will help them in getting their own land somewhere, if possible in Palestine. When Britain's allies won in World War I, Palestine come under Britain's rule. Eventually, Palestine is split into Israel and Palestine like the same way India is split into India and Pakistan (which was split again as Pakistan and Bangladesh). The same animosity between Indians and Pakistan existed in Israel and Palestine, however, the level of animosity and hatred is intensified infinity times. Arab Muslims fight against this split and sought support from Egypt, Jordan. After end of this initial Israel-Palestine conflict that involved three nations, Palestine ceased to exist as their partitioned land is occupied by these other nations leaving Palestine Arab Muslims refugees in their own land.
Yasser Arafat gave hope to Palestine Arab Muslims and considered as their only leader. His peace talks with Israel were frowned upon even by Palestine Arab Muslims. But the peace talks failed because the talks doesn't involve separate nation for Palestine Arab Muslims. Even now talks/fights going on to get their homeland in Palestine instead of living like refugees there.
Author explained in detail quoting his research this conflict. He explain how unbelievable unity among the Jews and rising again and again after many injustices by many nations led to amazing advances in very new born Israel and he explain his sadness that such people who themselves faced such injustices and hurling injustices against Palestine Arab Muslims by driving them out of their own homeland.
Well written book on the most disheartening subject.