In the right light, I bear a striking similarity to Orlando Bloom. Seriously, if it does all go ahead a week today, then I shall have the same birthday as the restored British Mandate of Palestine, the restored Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem, the restored Byzantine and Constantinian province in the capital of which Saint Helena miraculously discovered the True Cross. The British, Latin and Byzantine heritage is at least as important as the Islamic one in defining and declaring the new state to the wider world.
A Palestinian Declaration of Independence must explicitly lay claim to the whole of the viable Palestinian State created on both sides of the Jordan in 1948. Furthermore, it must mirror the Constitution of Lebanon in guaranteeing the Presidency to a Christian even if it guarantees the Premiership to a Muslim (as would have happened electorally anyway). It must mirror the Constitutions of Lebanon, of Iran, and of Palestine east of the Jordan, the present Hashemite Kingdom, as well as the Palestinian Authority, in guaranteeing parliamentary representation to Christians. It should mirror Syria is establishing Christian festivals as public holidays.
And it should place the new state – not only the Christians, but the State and everyone in it – under the protection of each and all of the remaining sacral monarchies, there being by definition no other kind, in Christendom. This would also be a wider appeal, to any and every country that regarded Christianity as fundamental to its identity. Does the American Republic so regard itself? Does the Russian Federation? Do the republics of Europe? Do the republics of Central America, South America and the Caribbean? Do the republics, and two kingdoms, of Africa? Does any other country? In each country’s case, how it responded to this Declaration would be its definitive answer to that question.
At the very least, this needs to appear over the names expressing the full authority of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate, the Latin Patriarchate, the Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Patriarchate, the Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land, the Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate, the Syrian Orthodox Patriarchate, the Greek-Melkite-Catholic Patriarchate, the Ethiopian Orthodox Patriarchate, the Maronite Patriarchal Exarchate, the Episcopal Church of Jerusalem and the Middle East, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land, the Syrian Catholic Patriarchal Exarchate, and the Armenian Catholic Patriarchal Exarchate. That would have an immediate, and very dramatic, impact.
With our without that Declaration, Britain could and should be shamed by a war memorial such as disgracefully does exist in this country, probably could not currently be erected in Jerusalem, and certainly could not currently be erected in Nazareth, but probably could be in Bethlehem. A memorial to those killed by Irgun, Lehi and all the rest of them. Blessed in the sight of the BBC by (among others, of course) the Latin Patriarch and the Anglican Archbishop, both visibly robed as such, and both introduced as such by the reporter for the benefit of the folks back home. Cue a subsequent explanatory piece, complete with interviews with any surviving veterans. Newspaper articles within a three-day radius, we all know the drill. And a member of the Royal Family in attendance, laying a wreath? If not, why not? After all, two of the most prominent are serving officers. The explicit invitation should be included in the announcement from Ramallah that this memorial was to be erected. After all, Ramallah is already sending its Officer Cadets to Sandhurst, and they are passing out with Palestine listed as their country. Commonwealth membership beckons.
Perhaps no one did identify as Palestinian, as such, before the creation of the State of Israel. By definition, no one identified as Israeli, either. Israel has made that particular section of the Levantine Arabs, Christian and Muslim, into Palestinians. If the Israelis, who are not all of the world’s Jews and who are not all Jewish, are entitled to a state, then so is their twin people, the Palestinians. And if that includes the West Bank Haredim, then so be it. They would find Palestine a lot more conducive than the land of Dana International.
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That last paragraph is brilliant. "There were no Palestinians before 1948." Well obviously there were no Israelis either. That point cannot be made too often.
ReplyDeleteSaid Rabbi Isaac Mayer Wise, laying down the principles of Reform Judaism in 1885: "We consider ourselves no longer a nation, but a religious community, and therefore expect neither a return to Palestine nor a sacrificial worship under the administration of the Sons of Aaron, nor the restoration of any of the laws concerning the Jewish state."
ReplyDeleteSaid the late, great Rabbi Elmer Berger: "To demonstrate that Judaism as a universal religion has depth and vision and appeal . . . There need be no nationalistic accouterments or trappings, no secular separatism or isolationism of an allegedly unique 'people' to attract and hold a child to the faith of his fathers ... The child who is educated in the faith and eternal verities of Judaism will become—and remain—a devoted and practicing Jew."
A friend of mine has just published the first ever full-length biography of Berger, a review of which will form part of Book Three or Book Four, depending on how things turn out.
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