Haaretz editorial comes out for freedom of worship, of altering the status quo at a holy site, of protesting violence and hate crimes based on religious motivation, and of doing so because the members of that religion are not temporary visitors but part of the city of Jerusalem, its history and its present, and not to transfer ownership, granting sovereignty or even of rights to administer the site.
No, not at the Temple Mount.
King David's Tomb at Mount Zion and for the Christians.
Excerpts:
...Right-wing activists, ultra-Orthodox elements, settler extremists and political activists have been running a callous campaign recently against the pope and any closer ties between Israel and the Vatican. Their main claim is that, during the pope’s visit, the government plans to sign an agreement that would alter the status quo at the King David’s Tomb complex on Mount Zion in Jerusalem [where]...the Catholic Church has asked for more access to the Room of the Last Supper...for ritual purposes...the issue of changing the situation was discussed to allow Christians a few more days’ prayer at the site every year. Yet, as opposed to the claims, no one ever spoke of transferring ownership, granting sovereignty or even of rights to manage the site.
...“price tag” events...from slashed tires and spray-painted slogans to smashed graves and even spitting attacks [have occured]...
The Christians in Jerusalem are not temporary visitors – they are part of the city, its history and its present. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu takes great pride in discussing the freedom of worship that exists in Jerusalem under Israeli rule. It would, therefore, be a good thing for the government to reach an agreement in which it allows true freedom of worship also for the Christians on Mount Zion. An agreement that allows prayers in the Room of the Last Supper will bring great diplomatic benefit, enabling Israel to prove with its deeds, not just words, that it allows true freedom of worship...Such an agreement would send a strong message to extremist elements – that there is enough room in Jerusalem and David’s Tomb for everyone. Simultaneously, the police must take the threats on Mount Zion seriously and successfully conclude investigations into the acts that have taken place there over the past year.
It seems that Haaretz is suggesting that Jews need to convert to Christianity to obtain equal rights of access and freedom of worship.
Or is this normative leftist radical progressive hypocrisy?
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