Passover Seder, Cup 4: Obama, this year in Jerusalem

... still say it because YOU were the one who brought up Res 181. Jordan ignored your International Law (Un Res 181) between 1948 and 1967. During that time, Jordan: - Ethnically cleansed Jews from East Jerusalem - Desecrated Jewish holy sites - Permitted Pal terrorist acts against Israelis in West Jerusalem Of course your "International Laws" were NOT invoked by anyone and the lives of Jews and their property were NOT protected by YOUR "International Law", Israel was obliged to protect it's own citizens instead of relying on your discriminatory laws which with typical UN hypocrisy it tries to ram down Israel's throat after Israel successfully defended itself in 1967. Suddenly they and the likes of you drag out "International Law" Well then Ron, you know what? The UN and the likes of you can shove your discriminatory and selective laws where the sun does NOT shine ...

Here's an objective view! Whenever I visit an Israeli news or periodical site all the news of the day relates to war, security, violence or hatred. It must really suck living there...

Beautiful! Words like these make me believe in a better future. G'd bless you.

... still say it because YOU were the one who brought up Res 181. Jordan ignored your International Law (Un Res 181) between 1948 and 1967. During that time, Jordan: - Ethnically cleansed Jews from East Jerusalem - Desecrated Jewish holy sites - Permitted Pal terrorist acts against Israelis in West Jerusalem Of course your "International Laws" were NOT invoked by anyone and the lives of Jews and their property were NOT protected by YOUR "International Law", Israel was obliged to protect it's own citizens instead of relying on your discriminatory laws which with typical UN hypocrisy it tries to ram down Israel's throat after Israel successfully defended itself in 1967. Suddenly they and the likes of you drag out "International Law" Well then Ron, you know what? The UN and the likes of you can shove your discriminatory and selective laws where the sun does NOT shine ...

This began when you asked, "so how come Obama tells us that Jews are not allowed" (in Jerusalem). I responded that Obama never said nor implied that. So, typically, you are asking me to comment on something that never happened. I am not doing that any more. I then pointed out that Israel is without any legal basis for sovereignty in Jerusalem. UN 181 declared Jerusalem an independent city, "Corpus Separatum," managed under UN auspices. For Israel to build there is a violation of the 4th Geneva Convention. Breaches of the Convention are considered war crimes. So now, typically, when you cannot address a subject, you change the subject.You ask me to explain UN resolutions pertaining to Jordan. The subject is irrelevant, and I dont intend to play the game. Jordan is not in violation of any UN resolutions. Israel is in violation of 20 UNSC resolutions, and roughly 100 UNGA resolutions. Israel is the problem, not Jordan.

1. In preparation for Passover, Slowman dunked his computer terminal in boiling water to kasher it, and was waaaaiting for it to resume functioning. 2. Slowman was figuring out what question to ask at the Seder since he didn't want to play the "dumb son" yet again. 3. Slowman was preparing a trap for Elijah the Prophet as he would come in to taste from his cup of wine. 4. How was this day different from any other day?

...laws? "Obama never said, nor implied, Jews are not allowed in Jerusalem. He is simply demanding that Israel show some acknowledgment of international law governing the city"(Ron) Then how come those international laws were NOT insisted upon by the UN or by any other country when Jordan had a brief control of Jerusalem between 1948 and 1967? How many UN resolutions can you show me, Ron, which demand that Jordan should stop building in East Jerusalem because of UN resolution 181? And how many UN resolutions can you show me which condemned Jordan for ethnically cleansing the Jews of East Jerusalem? How many UN resolutions can you show me, Ron, which condemned Jordan for desecrating Jewish holy sites in East Jerusalem? Tell me Ron, would you respect laws which would be selectively applied only against you but not against others who hurt you and yours? I certainly wouldn't respect such laws because laws are NOT meant to be discriminatory. I would actively fight such laws .. Most normal people would.

Hopefully the author means us to understand that in an undivided Jewish Jerusalem, the eternal capital of the Jewish State of Israel, where Jews build without fear or limitations attempted to be imposed on them by the enemy of Israel who has declared war on Israel - Barak Hussein Obama - that Jews will of course welcome all faiths to pray and visit in the eternal Jewish city. (And hopefully Jews will be welcome to visit the arabs in their "national" headquarters in Ramallah.)

Obama never said, nor implied, Jews are not allowed in Jerusalem. He is simply demanding that Israel show some acknowledgment of international law governing the city. Israel is a state lacking any legal basis for sovereignty in Jerusalem. UN resolution 181, under which Israel declared statehood, declared Jerusalem to be an international city, "corpus separatum," managed under UN auspices. For Israel to build there is a violation of the 4th Geneva Convention, and breaches of articles of the Convention can be considered a war crime. In 1980 the Knesset passed the "Basic Law" which declared Jerusalem complete and unified the capital of Israel. UNSC 478 declared the Knesset Basic Law "null and void." A well-written column by Burston. Only one thing wrong with it. Jews didn't build Jerusalem. The semite tribe, the Jebusites, built the city and inhabited it for over 100 years after the Israelites arrived in Canaan.

Does that sharing include the right of Jews to pray on the Temple Mount?

Firstly he is neither a lord or a Pharaoh. A simple man with grand ideas he cannot contain himself in thinking he will achieve the unachievable. Someone here,or on another forum said:That just Obamas little toe has more to give(or words to that effect)than anyone else. However,he forgot that Obama,has more than one TOE that aRe not his and without the extra TWO being Axelrod and Emanuel. Which makes three extra toes he cannot FUNCTIO Three toes that he cannot FUNCTION WITHOUT. he forgot that the toes in question are not one, but two+one=three and they are:Axelrod,and Emeanuel.So,without the rest of the two or even more toes he cannot FUNCTION At will. The apartments will be build for the Israeli citizens who ever they may be in need of them. It is not up to Obama to interfer with a SOVEREIGN nation's need. Let him deal with out fiscal problems which are getting worse by the day.Additionally he has to focus on Afghanistan,Pakistan,Korea,and lastly Iraq.

...learn to love and therefore live in peace. with much love, al

Netnyahu hurled three insults at Lord Obama and his aides, which he then needed to deny and apologize for promptly, even before the cock crowed: 1. Announcing the construction of 1600 apartments for Haredi Jews in East Jerusalem, all while VP Biden was visiting and calling for settlement freeze. Netanyahu apologized, and said he didn't know the decision was coming and in any case, the construction will not happen for a couple of years. 2. Calling Obama's Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel and senior advisor David Axelrod "self-hating Jews" (probably because they are not Likudniks at heart). Heard by too many people, but still Netanyahu denied he said it. 3. Netanyahu's close associate described Obama as "a disaster for Israel". Netanyahu said this does not represent his opinion and he rejects the description. Denial or not, Lord Obama knows the truth.

Comments that indicate full agreement with this article are not getting posted, so far as I can assess. But, Bradley, you're right. Just as a matter of interest, how about a celebratory centre for "RIGHTEOUS JEWS" ? It's not only the odd Gentile that's righteous.

This is what our faith is about, and this is the core of the faiths of our Christian and Muslim brothers. Israeli leaders have abandoned those foundations for the sake of confiscating Palestinian land. With that lust, these Israeli leaders have threatened the very heart and soul of Judaism with a narrow nationalism.

A beautifully written piece. One of your best.

The sentence above is actually found in the end of the Pessach Seder.Perhaps Mr. Burton has a new modified progressive version. Here is a more modern day quotation: "Those that fail to learn from history, are doomed to repeat it." - Winston Churchill Please learn from History Mr. Burston. In a very short interval during the last 2000 years when the Western Wall was in fact barred from Jews - namely 1948-1967,where it was un- apoligetically used as a rubbish dump by the Jordanians. Gaza is Juden free (exception Gilead Shalit). The Palestinians never had a mass peace movement - ever. Palestinian Authority maps still show a world map without an Israel and their official foundation principles still call for Israel's destruction. These are the broad brushstrokes. We cannot change that! Nevertheless, this article ignores all of this, and uses (as is the case of all left wing philosophy) introspective arguments as to why we must make peace under any conditions.

The sentence above is actually found in the end of the Pessach Seder.Perhaps Mr. Burton has a new modified progressive version. Here is a more modern day quotation: "Those that fail to learn from history, are doomed to repeat it." - Winston Churchill Please learn from History Mr. Burston. In a very short interval during the last 2000 years when the Western Wall was in fact barred from Jews - namely 1948-1967,where it was un- apoligetically used as a rubbish dump by the Jordanians. Gaza is Juden free (exception Gilead Shalit). The Palestinians never had a mass peace movement - ever. Palestinian Authority maps still show a world map without an Israel and their official foundation principles still call for Israel's destruction. These are the broad brushstrokes. We cannot change that! Nevertheless, this article ignores all of this, and uses (as is the case of all left wing philosophy) introspective arguments as to why we must make peace under any conditions.

The Bible itself tells some history of Jerusalem before it was conquered by Kind David around 1000 BCE. Genesis 14 tells of a meeting between Abraham and Melchizedek King of Jerusalem: "And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram to the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he [Abraham] gave him tithes of all." Note that Abraham recognized Melchizedek's priestly rank and gave him a tithe. Later in the Bible, with Jerusalem under Israel's rule, the historical figure of Melchizedek is still recall. In Psalm 110, in what is thought to be a declaration during the coronation of the King, the MC (Court prophet?) declares "The Lord has sworn, and will not repent, You are a priest for ever after in the manner of Melchizedek." It shows reverence for the pre-Israelite king of Jerusalem. Jerusalem did not start as a Jewish city, and there is no reason why it should end up as exclusively Jewish. Sharing it with the Palestinians who see themselves (justifiably) as descendants of the early residents, and view the Islamic religion (unjustifiably) as the religion of Abraham, will be historically correct and politically smart.

Jebus/Jerusalem must be shared among the Three RELIGIONS, Yes NO Single Nation can have the MONOPOLY of it, the quicke Bibi appreciates this the quicker we will have Peace in this Region.

The best Passover Seder words I have ever heard. Enough of nursing hurts that took place centuries ago. Yes, Christ was crucified, but is that all there is of Christianity? Yes, the Jewish Temple was destroyed, but without that exile, there would have been no Einstein (and no Bernie Madoff either). Sure Sunni and Shi'ia could not agree of succession, but enough already! Gandhi had it right about nonviolence.

... his utopia. It has nothing to do with reality.

Nice piece by Bradley,but he did not tell us anything new.He knows that HOLY JERUSALEM is free to the three religions since it was returned to the true ownners by BLOOD SWEAT AND TEARS.If Bradley takes into account how well and safe the HOLY DAVID's City is kept by our IDF he would,should also write with more honesty. He should have reminded the responders how Jews were not allowed anywhere near the HOLY CITY or PRAY there,by the Jordanians when they occupied OUR HOLY DAVID'S CITY. But he forgot,understandable. Finally let us all hope and pray Israel never reliquishes it. Amen

There was not even 1 Jew in East Jerusalem then and there were daily shooting into the West Jerusalem by the Arabs. Jews were NOT ALLOWED to visit or Pray in East Jerusalem. BRADLEY=JESUS. He lives on Another Planet.Very sad.

Take your liberal politics to America and snuggle up with Obama. When Muslims pray with their hind quarters facing Mecca and their heads facing Jerusalem. Then talk to us about sharing Jerusalem.

You speak of wrath. For human beings a more appropriate word for the emotion is "anger" and the truth is that anger is rooted in fear. So I understand the anger that I see expressed on these pages. So, the strategy must be to allay fear, a much more difficult task. A piece full of wisdom which everyone can learn from. Happy Passover.

The city is older than you like to believe before there were even jews there was jerusalem

My friend, what Israel need is GOD (and HE is there).It does not matter what Obama has to say or whoever says what. It will be as the Prophets predicted. Nothing more,nothing less. Isreal can try and befriend anybody, but at the end it will be as GOD said it will be. GOD never changes. HE is who HE is. HE told Moses thousands of years ago ; "I am who I am"

If our "noble" politicians would read and their "noble" politicians would read this maybe the prophecies of joy and peace would come true. Sigh maybe... Hag Sameach Bradley and to all.

"The slave in us scrawls on the walls of the Holy City that our friend over the sea Barack Obama is Pharaoh, that to divide Jerusalem is to devour the children of Israel. " Great way to build trust and friendship. Now you are showing your true color. The city of Jerusalem must have its boundaries defined and the entire city is designated as an international enclave controlled by both Israeli and Palestinians--together in peace. If Israelis can build in East Jerusalem, then Palestinians must have permit to build in the West Jerusalem.

'We built this city, and after us, the Christians built this city, and after them, the Muslims' By and large, all three groups of people were the same. A few of them are still there -- in the city/cities that they built. Of course, most of them have been driven out. They're called 'Palestinians.'

BEFORE THE WHY,I WILL WISH BRADLEY: HAG PESSAH SAMEACH. THEWHY IS:HE WILL OT BE IN ISRAEL,BUT IN THE USA. P/S EXCUSE THE CASPS LOCK.INJURED HAND.

Bradley, you live in a bubble. Under Jordanian rule from 1948-1967, neither Jews nor Israeli citizens of any faith were allow to share in any part of the old city. From 1967 until today, the old city has effectively been divided with the Jordanian religous trust (Waqf) controlling the temple mount where Jews are still prohibited and the Jerusalem police controlling the rest of the old city where all are free to worship with the exception of young Palestinian men during times of heightened security. The only part of Jerusalem which is occupied by a foreign power is the Temple Mount itself and I therefore agree with you that we pray G-d this passover that the temple mount be shared among all of the inhabitants of the land of Israel regardless of faith

That's funny, cuz last time I was there, a Jew got arrested for praying, and the Mufti was there yelling at the Israel police to come arrest -me- for walking happily. There are very strict rules in the Torah to govern what goes on for prayer on Har Habayit. Ignorance is also slavery, Bub.

If any one is looking for someone to play the simpleton among the 4 sons of the haggadah, I nominate Bradly

Jews too always lived in East Jerusalem but now somehow they are not allowed to build homes there? That does not sound to me like a fine example of sharing ...

Thank you for such a good article. I am a palestinian muslim and I throughly enjoyed reading it.

1.From all eternity, only one boy was blessed to miraculously make The Middle East Crisis a Foolish Thing of the past, just like when Magellan sailed West in order to reach East, proving beyond reasonable doubt that the earth is indeed round not flat. 2.This small but well-trained shepherd boy has the Moshiachs Meal of Five Loaves that catches TWO BIG FISH: the devil and the one true God. 3.The Five Loaves Formula proves beyond reasonable doubt that the God man presently worships is in fact the devil, the first fish. 4.The Five Loaves Formula also implores the One True God, the second fish, to come down from heaven and remain with us until the end of time. 5.Hungry boys and girls: HAPPY PALM SUNDAY.

When Jerusalem truly knows peace there will be no flags there. No flags at all. Well... maybe a poster of Raquel Welch? I could salute that! LOL!

Just to give you an idea of how powerful is the Five Loaves Formula once unleashed. The following are of course just metaphor but nonetheless real: 1.Obama will issue an executive order to the treasury to have the dollar reprinted with ?Ïn Christ we trust? replacing ?In God we trust?. 2.Bibi will immediately get down to his knees and confess JIL, INRI or something like that. 4.Benedict will tie a millstone around his neck and drown himself into the sea. 5.Militants will make a 180 degree u-turn to catch their deceiver preachers. 6.Israel and Palestine will say ?I do? as if their heads were suddenly poked by a shotgun. 7.God will descend immediately from heaven and the devil will depart to hell. 8.Mankind will be snatched from the claws of the primordial monster and withdrawn from the depths of hell 9.The earth will be shaken beyond the Richter scale and renewed beyond recognition. 10.Need I say more?

"if he was there (in egypt) he would not be redeemed." what a dope, what a maroon. there are prerequisites for the utopia you speak of. city of peace, mean to continue to insist to hear talk of peace from the other side. in the meantime, all the pals say is hate.

Thank you Bradley. You talk for us all. God created mankind one nation and divided into tribes, creed and colors so that we know each other in friendship and humility. Its not divided to fight each other to extinction. How to deny that this holy city is holy for Jew's, Christians and Muslims and let them live there in love and respect. Let it remain shared for for all those who claim to love it .

I have been thinking on how can Jerusalem be a divided city and still work? IF you look at Jerusalem during the Jordanian occupation... It worked pretty well... you had this big wall in the center of the city dividing it up... That way i Knew which part is mine and you know which part is yours... But now they claim that somehow blood enemies can share a city without any real borders... I can only see this Turing out to become some pseudo West side story... Instead of the sharks and jets you have the Jews and Pals and Maria is Jerusalem... Turf wars for domination of street corners now turns into international conflicts... New York can be split via states(new York and new Jersey) because those states belong to ONE federal government... You cant rewrite the story... and in the end Tony will die... The only question is who is Tony? The Jew or the Pal?

Or at least it was for me. Unfortunately, I would not be surprised to learn that the noise we're hearing is the sound of it falling on deaf ears.

Thank you for this piece, Bradley. I share your sentiments and your hope.