East Jerusalem is currently the loggerhead in the Mid-East peace process. The Palestinians, with the support of the Arab states, say that come what may they must have control over East Jerusalem. A strong force in Israeli politics is of a similar opinion, saying that they will not compromise on this issue, that East Jerusalem must be under Israeli control.

Unless a compromise is somehow reached, it appears that more people will die in the violence in this region, soldiers will die on both sides, more protesters will be killed, more people imprisoned, civilians including children, old men and women, even babies, will die as a direct result of the violence.

In order to avoid any more violence perhaps we should turn to the story of wise old Solomon himself for the solution. It is said that once upon a time two women appeared before him, both claiming the right to a particular baby, each saying that she was the rightful mother of the child. Solomon proposed that the baby be divided in two, and half given to each woman. Hearing this, one of the women said, "No, don’t do that, let the other woman have it." Solomon, in his wisdom, then gave the baby to this woman who obviously valued the life of the baby above her own interest in the matter.

Seldom can an example like this be applied in its precise form, but it can be adapted to fit the dispute over East Jerusalem today. Obviously a present-day Solomon cannot threaten to destroy East Jerusalem and expect one of the sides to declare, "No! Let them have it." But something similar can be proposed, a solution that seems just as wise as Solomon’s. Both sides can agree to a UN force moving in to raze all those ancient constructions, dynamite the traditional sites, leaving not one stone upon another.

What would this solve? Well, most importantly, it would solve the conflict over East Jerusalem – no more violence, not one more death. Well, one might ask, "What about the loss?"

There can be no denying that there would be a great loss in terms of the cultural, architectural and religious value of those historic sites – but certainly the life of even a single human being is worth more. What is the value of religious shrines anyway, once they have become the root of envy and hatred? When they are the focus of bitter dispute, when they provoke armed conflict and death?

The day after this proposed destruction of the Old City, old men of different religions, women, even young religious boys and girls of various faiths will wander out over the vast field of sand marking the former site. Their daily habits will have been disrupted... no mosque in which to worship, no Wailing Wall, no Christian shrine in which to pray or meditate... what to do? The wisdom of Solomon will prevail, since they will be forced to look into themselves, and to reflect. They will be forced to see that real value does not lie in the past, nor outside of themselves, in things of wood and stone. They will be forced to consider that what really matters is something inside themselves, call it a spirit if you will, a spirit by which people can concentrate their constructive efforts toward assuring a better life for themselves and their children, while respecting the rights of their neighbors to do likewise; a spirit to work hard toward solutions where conflicts arise, to make a world in which their children, and those of their neighbors, can live in peace.

By John Norman

The author concedes all rights for not-for-profit use, for dissemination by any means -- electronic, printed, spoken, etc., in any not-for-profit way in order to help avert more violence in connection with the subjects discussed.