GREETINGS, SALAAM, SHALOM & ALOHA

This BLOG is dedicated to establishing real, lasting, wholistic peace in Jerusalem.

Considering my successful efforts with the Israeli Supreme Court to help stop the creation of a large war museum on Har Eitan (a nature reserve on the western edge of Jerusalem), please take a few minutes to consider the following pages revolving around the position paper on “Sharing Jerusalem: the Home and Garden Plan”.

This paper is the result of decades of interfaith study and practice, dramatic experiences living in East and West Jerusalem, as well as comments from thousands of concerned people from around the world.



Respectfully,
Daniel Mark


inONEspirit@gmail.com


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SHARING JERUSALEM

THE HOME & GARDEN PLAN

The Old City walls form the perimeter of a structure which is comparable to a very large HOME (a gigantic, partially open mansion); while the area to the right, [possibly from Sheikh Jarrach to Jabal Mukhabar or possibly just "A-Tur" (the Mt. of Olives)] between the Old City walls and the recently constructed Arab Israeli Security Fence could be comparable to the home's backyard and GARDEN.



The people living in either the “Home” or “Garden” could have special residential status. Each of these individuals would be given the right to choose either Israeli or Ishmaeli citizenship. Each of these residents would then be granted the legal right to enter (and exit) the “Home & Garden” freely from (and into) the country listed on their identity card (possibly through ‘local gateways’ dedicated for "Residential and Diplomatic" use only; while other border crossings from the States of Israel and Ishmael would be available to everyone). Eventually as peace becomes more and more established, the border crossings could become more and more open, allowing the free exhange of goods, tourism and other businesses to flourish.

Together the “Home & Garden” could create a Neutral Buffer Zone (NBZ) owned by both the Ishmaelis and Israelis. This could dramatically enhance human rights, economic stability, peaceful coexistence, as well as responsible security, in the State of Israel and the State of Ishmael.

The local gateways and border crossings between the NBZ and the Israeli border would be controlled by Israelis and monitored by Ishmaelis as well as peacekeepers from a Pool of Neutral International Observers (PNIO). Likewise the local gateways and border crossings between the NBZ and the Ishmaeli border would be controlled by Ishmaelis and monitored by Israelis as well as peacekeepers from the PNIO. Furthermore this would allow peaceful negotiations to move forward between the Ishmaelis and Israelis, significantly reducing the size of disputed lands and hostilities.

A number of new gateways and/or border crossings could also be opened when the conditions warrant a celebration of our progress toward “Responsible Peace and Security”. Each new opening would encourage further cooperation as well as foreign investment in the region.

A pedestrian bridge could also be built between the Mt. of Olives and the Al Aksa Compound to facilitate safety, to ease vehicular traffic, to create jobs as well as to reduce congestion at the Al Aksa Compound’s existing entry ways and exits.

By creating a “University of Interfaith Cooperation” somewhere in the NBZ, we could create a tremendous amount of employment and prosperity as well. Plus the Univ. of Interfaith Cooperation could promote multicultural understanding, compassionate communications, sustainability and ecotourism.

These projects in concert with the Sharing Jerusalem: Home and Garden arrangement could enhance the local and state economies dramatically. Each step of the way could reinforce our commitments to work together and act as motivators for Israelis and Ishmaelis to understand each other better. Furthermore media coverage would give the rest of the world something real, positive and tangible to ponder. Completion of the building projects would also be a triumphant historical event that would clearly point to the success of our cooperative efforts.

More Details of the Home & Garden Plan

When discussing the GARDEN area between the Old City walls and the recently constructed Arab Israeli Security Fence, we are mainly concerned about the area between Hebrew University Mount Scopus and East Talpiot, but it could even be a ring completely encircling the Old City. The size of this area could be set and/or adjusted to satisfy the governments of Ishmael and Israel.

The GARDEN is a partially enclosed hill with terraced orchards, olive groves, apartments, churches, mosques, cemeteries and open terrain.


To allow peaceful government negotiations to move forward between the Ishmaelis and Israelis, all personal disputes involving property within this area could go through a process of subsidized, international mediation. To facilitate this process and to keep costs as low as possible, the early stages of mediation could probably be handled by computer, with appeals handled by an equal number of professional Israeli, Ishmaeli and International mediators.

I also recommend that Home and Garden property owners who want to build within this area would require building permits approved by a “Sustainable Land Use Committee” composed of an equal number of professionals from Israel, Ishmael and the PNIO with standards applied fairly and equally to all concerned.


During times of good or excellent cooperation between the Israeli and the Ishmaeli governments, the border crossings serving these areas could be very open (subject only to electronic searching) thus allowing business, personal, spiritual and tourist exchanges to flourish. During such times, border guards could maintain a low (almost invisible) presence.

In times of poor or failing cooperation, the border crossings serving these areas could be controlled more carefully or even closed if necessary (the residents would still be able to use the local gateways between the “Home & Garden” and the country listed in their identity card. During such times, border guards and the PNIO could be more visible while encouraging calm and consideration, protecting human rights and exercising physical restraint. Arabs & Israelis wishing to travel between Ishmael and Israel could also be required to have a visa.

Each new gateway or border crossing that is opened can be celebrated as a sign of progress toward “Responsible Peace and Security”. And each one would create opportunities for cooperation as well as a reminder to encourage spiritual involvement and/or foreign investment in the region.




In each of the building projects, the dates for the groundbreaking ceremonies, the timetable for construction as well as the opening ceremonies, could be based on some measures of government cooperation. Because these projects could enhance the local and state economies dramatically, each step of the way could act as a motivator for Israelis and Ishmaelis to work together and to understand each other better. Furthermore the ongoing media coverage would give the world something real, positive and tangible to ponder. Plus the completion would be a triumphant historical event that would clearly point to the success of our cooperative efforts.

Comments

For personal and/or political reasons the vast majority of the comments received so far prefer to remain anonymous for the time being.

For the sake of brainstorming
and hopefully to stimulate thoughts, questions and comments,
some of the ideas are listed here:

"I read and reread your Jerusalem Home and Garden plan several times. I noticed the addditions you made in January were all, except Thoreau, assassinated. Not by the ostensible "enemy" but from someone within their own constituency. Where is the real threat. From within ourselves? Do we, the Israelis, seem at peace with ourselves? with our families? with each other? Do they, our neighbors, seem at peace with themselves, with their families, with each other? This is the raw material out of which any proposed peace process must be built. And look at what there is (or is not) to work with. With all the 'benefits' touted by religion, whether Islam, Christianity, Judaism or Hinduism, this is what is the bottom line. Reminds me of God looking down before the flood, seeing into man's heart and deciding to destroy the whole shebang. Eventually he sent the Rainbow as a sign..."

"While most news you receive from the Holy Land in the aftermath of the Gaza war is awful, the peacemakers continue their work, invisible to the eyes of the world. This has been a difficult time, the gap of mistrust and anger between the Israelis and Palestinians is as wide as ever. In the face of all of this though, we have deepened our commitment to work for peace."

"I checked out your blog and appreciated reading it and your enthusiasm. I trust the right people will read it. I sent the info to a news reporter, who told me to inform him the next time you visit."

"I read your plan for Jerusalem. Beautiful. I will do all I can to transform Jerusalem to a garden of peace for all."

"Your idea is great and creative. I hope the people in charge can appreciate it."

"very interesting, sounds like great ideas to me.... lets get to it. Thanks for sharing!"

"Just a short message now to what merits many comments. Congratulations for your new blog and long developing plans! I guess this reflects your MIT (entry) which seems to dovetail beautifully with the proposal I made. We should get (our) blogs linked!"

"Lots happening in the energetic field and it is timely. What was once not even conceived as being possible is now so...shine your light my friend. Shine it brightly so that we can all see and support you and those of you who are out there doing the work of God"

"Thanks for this. The most recent war on Gaza hit me hard. Your email is definitely very timely"

"This is a nice plan, which in order to work will require considerable cooperation and compromise from both sides…Its almost like turning what you are calling the “Home & Garden” into a neutral territory like Vatican City. Maybe that’s the answer... I see a Nobel Prize in your future."

"your idea of sharing Jerusalem is wonderful. The situation in Israel now is so tense, I don't see how people will be able to share anything."


"Writing you back to say NICE JOB of saving sacred land! If you need any warriors in the future by all means let me know. The future is right now and it's high time we fight for Pacha Mama. again, Daniel, way to go."

"(Maybe you should be) running for (Israeli) Prime Minster"

"I think your ideas are on the 'right track' (especially) in terms of greening out the conflict"



Please feel free to add your comments as we go along...

Encouragement from Yitzhak Rabin

“All our lives, all our dreams and all of our prayers were dominated by peace in accordance with the biblical command
‘Seek peace and pursue it’…”

Ladies and Gentlemen: we are undergoing a revolution of peace. When it succeeds, we will find ourselves in a new world with added dimensions and concepts. Our personal lives will change for the better, our cultural lives will be enhanced and the whole region will prosper.

The price of peace, calculated in hard currency, is going to rise significantly every year until we stop playing games and pay the price. Therefore we must adapt our national priorities in order to be successful partners in a greater effort!

The Arabs and the Jews have been fated to live together in the same land, even on the same soil. Together we have learned that terror and deceit bring tremendous suffering, humiliation, bereavement and pain to both sides. There have been enough blood and tears shed. Enough!

Each of us would rather build homes, plant trees and live in dignity as free human beings. Therefore let us step up the talks and hold on-going discussions so we can hear each others views and create an atmosphere for good neighborly relations.

We know that there will still be obstacles in our way; but after the obstacles are cleared away, the Arabs and the Israelis will have stronger states, and happier nations in which we can be even more proud to be citizens.

Whenever violence occurs there are scars that linger for both the winners and the losers. Fortunately with peace everyone is a victor; therefore, let us open an exciting, new chapter in our history: a chapter of mutual recognition and respect. We must relearn how to live together in the same way that peace and security can work together.

Security brings peace of mind, which we hope to deliver to each neighborhood, to every school as well as to each and every home. Peace also improves educational and career opportunities bringing everyone more financial security as well.

This is a very auspicious moment, a time of great possibilities and opportunities that we shall do our utmost to accomplish!

It is our duty first to ourselves, then to each other and also to the children yet to be born to do everything possible to support world peace, reconciliation and multicultural cooperation. Therefore we must fit into this quickly changing world, a place where people of various cultures must live closer and closer together and embrace the international peace movement spreading throughout the world.

Until a fair agreement is reached, let us uphold the law and protect the rights of each and every individual, safeguarding the freedom of worship for the followers of all the religions and maintain access to all the holy places.

These are the desires that we wish to turn into realities. Therefore we urge you to be patient, discuss these goals with each other, and let us see peace and prosperity grow in our midst.

Encouragement from Anwar Sadat

“every human being is entitled to a happy family life
regardless of religious belief or nationality…”


Ladies and Gentlemen: On October 16, 1973, I called for an international conference to establish peace in the Middle East based on justice.

Many months in which peace could have been brought about have been wasted over differences of opinion, suspicions, lack of confidence, fruitless discussions and procedures. If we avoid our growing problems, we are simply wasting more valuable time.

Despite long years of feuding, strife and animosity, I believe that Israelis and Arabs can live in this part of the world with full security despite the psychological barriers between us. Seventy percent of our problem is simply due to suspicion, fear and distorted illusions we have had of each other.

We need a radical solution to adequately address and overturn that and to redirect us toward permanent peace. To achieve this, we are willing to accept all the international guarantees Israel envisage, because in return, Egypt shall receive the same guarantees.

Together we can avoid the shedding of another drop of blood on either side. We must use every possible means to save people from the horror, suffering and destruction of another war. We must be strong and brave to shoulder the burdens and responsibilities of a durable peace. And we must rise above obsolete theories of superiority for the sake of progress and happiness, for security and dignity and for the sake of the children for generations to come.

Therefore I open my heart to the entire world to help you understand my motivations and my objectives and to convince you that there are many Arabs who are serious advocates of justice and peace. We proceed from a sincere desire for peace which stems from a position of stability and power. Our call for peace is also based on United Nation’s resolutions, the expressed will of the international community and world public opinion.

Together we can end our belligerence with a commitment of all states in the region to uphold relationships with each other in accordance with the principles of the United Nations Charter, particularly the principle concerning the nonuse of force and to resolve differences by peaceful means.

We are learning that missiles, warships and other weapons destroy what peace and security build and that face to face negotiations are the fastest and most successful method to make peace. So let us reach out our hands to each other in faith and sincerity.

Peace is much more than an endorsement of written lines. It is the duty of every citizen in this region whose right it is to live in peace. This is our commitment which is shared in the hearts and minds of millions of Egyptians.

So let us stand together with the courage and the boldness of heroes who are dedicated to a higher purpose. Let us stand together with the same daring and strength to build a huge monument for peace that will serve as a beacon for generations to come and a message of human cooperation. Let us follow Jerusalem’s example, the city of peace, and live together in a state of hospitality as a living embodiment of coexistence among the believers of three faiths. In so doing, let us introduce to the entire world a new age, a new beginning and a new life of prosperity and freedom.

Guidelines from Dr. Martin Luther King

“The time is always right to do right…
Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere…
Justice too long delayed is justice denied…”

Ladies and Gentlemen: We have experienced grave disappointment with the so-called ‘moderates’ who are usually much more concerned about maintaining order (and the status quo) than they are about justice.

I will be the first to advocate obeying just laws. One has a legal and a moral responsibility to do so. Conversely one has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws. Any law that uplifts human personality is likely to be just, while any law that degrades human personality is likely to be unjust.

Mindful of the difficulties that we have endured, it is still crucial to be prepared and that means conducting a series of workshops on civil disobedience that are accessible to each and every community affected by injustice.

More and more I see people of ill will who use time, technology, resources and politics more effectively than people of goodwill. Therefore, each of us has to examine ourselves and take responsibility for our apathy and our silence until prejudice and hate are properly contained and civilized. We understand that there are many pent up resentments and latent frustrations, but we must allow them to be released; healthy discontent can be channeled into creative outlets, which can put an end to misunderstandings that trigger the cycles of violence.

Those of us involved in civil disobedience are merely bringing to the surface the hidden tension that is already present. Injustice must be exposed to allow the natural medicines of air and light to bring healing. The light of human conscience and the air of an informed nation are necessary before injustice can be cured.

There are basically four steps in a non-violent campaign: 1) collection of relevant facts, 2) reasonable negotiation, 3) self purification and only then 4) direct acts of civil disobedience.

The first goal is to open the doors for productive dialogue. We know through painful experience that freedom is rarely given by the oppressor voluntarily. Usually it must be demanded by those oppressed through direct actions which are carefully timed and organized to maximize the economic effects on the authorities. Acts of civil disobedience dramatize the issues so that they can be aired and addressed. Plus they expose tension that is necessary for our growth. Together these put pressure on the authorities for the need to change.

It is helpful to keep in mind that tension is an important part of the constructive transition from an obnoxious condition to a much more positive and peaceful situation in which everyone will respect the dignity and worth of human expression.

Let us hope that the dark clouds of prejudice will soon pass away and the thick fog of misunderstanding will be lifted from our fear drenched community. May we find in the near future that the radiant stars of love and brotherhood will come out, and shine over our great nation with sparkling beauty.

Guidelines from Mahatma Gandhi

“Something so unexpected and unusual is happening…
We must question ourselves, for the governments are at a loss…”

Ladies and Gentlemen: help us proclaim our right for all people to be treated with equality. Even if we are a small minority at first, the truth is the truth; and the truth is that there are unjust laws, just as there are unjust people.

If we wish to be among the just, we must be committed to use peaceful means; and we must be determined that justice will be done!

So let us light up the minds of the public and the authorities with our defiance of injustice. The function of a civil resistor is to provoke a response, which we can easily do. That is the power of civil resistance. Fortunately there are many, many sympathetic people around who will support and nourish the efforts of those who free others from bondage, poverty, fear and/or apathy.

Poverty is a terrible form of violence. In order for us to be secure, we need to address the poverty in our midst. When I was a child, most of the families made their own cloth and grew their own fresh food. Now many people are unemployed, because of those who buy packaged food and imported clothes. Ironically there is very little health or beauty in the finest clothes when they make hunger and unhappiness in our community. I have learned that happiness does not come from things. However, happiness can come from work and pride in what we do. Poverty can only be removed if local skills can be revived and improved.

I praise your willingness to make appropriate sacrifices for justice. In this cause I am prepared to die, but my friends there is no cause or reason in which I am prepared to kill. Whatever the current authorities do to us, we should refrain from hurting or killing anyone. They may imprison us, they may fine us, they may even seize our belongings; but they can not take away our self respect unless we give it to them. I am asking you to ‘fight’ in a different way without striking a single blow. It may hurt, as all fighting hurts, but we will succeed if we fight to change things instead of fighting to take revenge.


I have found that there are much better ways to change things than to mobilize troops or to throw stones! If we are ready for independence, we must be willing to stand up for our freedom even if we are sent to jail in large numbers. We may accept such outrageous hospitality if it helps our cause. When they arrest us, they will expect us to lose heart or to fight back. But if we are peaceful and wise, whatever moral ascendancy the current authorities thought they held over us will be lost. The old authorities are clinging to old dreams, trying to protect their old ways. But their will is dying and justice will prevail. It is just a matter of when and how. Please keep in mind that throughout history, the way of truth and love has always won eventually. Some tyrants and murderers may seem invincible but in the end, they always fail. The truth is that evil is running around in our own hearts and that is where all our battles ought to be fought and focused through self control. Therefore I hope and pray that in every church, synagogue and mosque, the people will pledge to die before they lift a hand against another.

Guidelines from Henry David Thoreau

“It is our duty to wash our hands of indifference and inaction
and withdraw our support from every injustice…”

Ladies and Gentlemen: In the last two hundred years, we have seen a great deal of progress in the direction of individual rights. This is a direct result of the evolution of governments from heavy handed dictatorships to monarchies with limited powers, to our current attempts at democracy. Obviously there are still significant improvements that can be made.

At best, a government is a tool to organize public services; unfortunately most governments are terribly inefficient organizers. So much time is wasted on elections and each year more integrity is lost in the process. Unfortunately honest people and patriots accomplish little more than a cheap vote or a weak petition, often choosing to hesitate, while waiting for the politicians to remedy their own evils. Truth be told, the character of one good person can easily accomplish more than a weak government. Ironically the best government is one which has to govern the least. Furthermore the only rights a government should have over a group of people or their property are the rights which they concede.

In the US Declaration of Independence, there is a clear understanding that citizens have the right to refuse allegiance to the government when corruption or inefficiency becomes intolerable. Unfortunately unjust laws still exist. Shall we try to amend them and in the meantime obey them until we have succeeded? Or shall we transgress them immediately?

It is far better to cultivate a respect for what is right than to cultivate absolute respect for the law; therefore we should be ethical human beings first and only afterward be good citizens. A common result of the undue respect for law is when a soldier marches off to war against his/her common sense. When this occurs, that person becomes a mere shadow of humanity, like a zombie buried under arms. Ironically even soldiers without conscience are esteemed as ‘good citizens’ when in truth, they deserve little more respect than a horse, a dog, a scarecrow or a lump of clay. Furthermore the objections against fighting are many and carry serious weight. In the end conscientious objectors deserve to prevail.

Instead of arguing with politicians about any of this, it is far more effective to cut off our business with the actual enterprises and merchants who lobby for unfair advantages. Practically speaking these are the ones who oppose legitimate legal reforms because they are more interested in commerce than they are in humanity. The problem is that government officials and many of the people who elect them are often unsure what their real goals are, so many potential improvements are slow in coming.

Fortunately civil disobedience can speed up the process of legal reform and reduce public reliance on the false security of the existing government. Furthermore it costs more in every sense to pledge allegiance to a corrupt State and her stagnant forms of security than it would to incur the penalty of non violent civil disobedience.

Let every one of us make known what kind of government would command our respect and that will be a big step toward obtaining a positive, useful and functional State.