The Temple Mount and Israel

The Temple Mount and Israel where Jesus lived & died

For AI assistance – click on Artificial Intelligence (AI)

For Jews, Israel is their ancestral homeland, the location of the Temple Mount, and a focal point of their faith. The Temple Mount is located in the southeastern corner of the Old City of Jerusalem. It hasimportant significance for Judaism, Islam, and Christianity.  The Hebrew Bible and the Old Testament revealsGod’s promise to Abraham and his descendants of the land of Canaan, which is Israel.  

In Christianity, Jesus is a key figure in their faith.  Jesus lived, ministered, died, and was resurrected in the Land of Israel, making it a sacred place central to Christian beliefs.  For Christians, the Land of Israel holds a special significance as the place where God’s promises.

Many Christians believe that the Land of Israel holds a special spiritual significance, as the place where God’s promises are fulfilled and where God himself, in the person of Jesus, walked the earth. 

For the Muslims The Temple Mount, known to Muslims as Haram al-Sharif, is significant because Muslims believe it is the place where the Prophet Muhammad ascended to heaven during his Night Journey. For Muslims the Temple consists of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, one of Islam’s holiest mosques, used for congregational or prayer in the Old City and the Dome of the Rock.  Al-Aqsa and the Dome of the Rock are distinct structures within the same Al-Aqsa Mosque compound on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. The Dome of the Rock is a shrine, not a mosque, known for its golden dome and significance as the location of Muhammad’s ascension.

The Temple Mount is in the old city of Jerusalem which was the ancient city of the Middle East since 1967 and has been entirely under the rule of the State of Israel.  So although Mount Temple is holy and significant worship place for three religions, Jews and Muslims associate the site with Abraham, who was tested by God to sacrifice his son Isaac and his obedience to God.  

Other prophets are also venerated in Islam at the Temple Mount.  So all three religions respect each other’s religious motives and making this place a very holy and religious site. The temple Mount is not really a temple nor is there a temple currently standing on this site.  For the past several hundred years, it has been an Islamic holy site. So why is there so much drama around a 2,000-year-old platform? Ultimately, there is only one answer: because God has chosen it as it is written in the Bible and the Torah. Genesis 22 is the first reference of God choosing this location.

Israel has developed so much since it was established a country in 1948.  Why is that.  There are numerous reasons:

Factors contributing to Israel’s development.

Several factors are often cited to explain Israel’s relative progress compared to some surrounding Arab countries:

• Strong Emphasis on Education and Human Capital: Israel has placed a high value on education and human resource development, according to Wikipedia. Its education system, characterized by flexibility and innovation, produces highly skilled graduates who drive economic progress, especially in the technology sector. A child born in Israel can expect to be 73% as productive as they could be with complete education and full health, which is higher than the average for both the Middle East & North Africa region and high-income countries, according to the World Bank.
• Culture of Innovation and Research & Development (R&D): Israel is known as the “Startup Nation” due to its thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem and high number of startups per capita. It has a culture that encourages research, invention, and risk-taking, which is essential for innovation. Israel spends more on R&D as a percentage of GDP than any other country in the world, including more than double the OECD average, says Harvard Kennedy School.
• Technologically Advanced Economy: Israel has a sophisticated and developed economy, particularly in the high-tech sector, including cybersecurity, AI, fintech, digital health, and other areas. This technological advancement is reflected in its exports, which include high-technology equipment, cut diamonds, and pharmaceuticals.
• Resilience and Adaptability: Despite facing security challenges and being relatively resource-poor, Israel has demonstrated economic resilience and adaptability. It has diversified its economy beyond traditional industries and has consistently achieved high GDP growth rates.
• Foreign Aid and Investment: The United States has provided substantial financial assistance to Israel, particularly in military aid, for decades. This support has contributed to Israel’s security and allowed it to develop its military and security capabilities.  (Source from Google.com)

Due to its consistent and on-going progress, Israel has been the only country in the Middle East that has advanced and developed its technology and resources since its founding in 1948.  Unfortunately, the Palestinians on the West Bank have solely depended on Israel Electric Corporation (IEC)   which supplies most of the electricity used in the Palestinian territories, including the West Bank. In addition, Israel’s national water company, Mekorot, supplies water to the West Bank. In reality, the Palestinians living in the West Bank and Gaza Strip depend on Israel for various aspects of their economy and daily lives.  Without their help, the West Bank and Gaza Strip would be helpless and in dire straits. This dependency is due to decades of Israel occupation and control over Palestinian territories and resources.

Why haven’t the Palestinian and other Arab countries progressed economically and technically compared to Israel?  The fact is that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and other conflicts and political instability throughout the Arab world have been a significant barrier to sustained economic development in many Arab nations and the Palestinian Territories.  (Source Google.com data).  Also, many Arab countries have faced challenges related to governance, transparency, and accountability, which can hinder economic growth and discourage investment.

So why is there still so much conflict between Israel and the Palestinians?  Here are some reasons:

1. Conflicting claims to land and self-determination

• Zionism and Arab Nationalism: Both movements emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries with conflicting aspirations over the same land – Mandatory Palestine, which is considered an ancestral homeland by Jews and historically belongs to Arab Palestinians in the pan-Arab and pan-Islamic context.
• Establishment of Israel and the Nakba: The 1948 Arab-Israeli War, following the declaration of the State of Israel, resulted in the displacement of over 750,000 Palestinians, who became refugees. This event, known as the Nakba (catastrophe), is a central and deeply traumatic element of Palestinian national identity and history.
• Israeli Occupation of Palestinian Territories: Since the 1967 Six-Day War, Israel has occupied the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip, territories Palestinians see as the foundation for their future state. 

2. Arab states and the Palestinian cause

• Arab League opposition: The Arab League was formed in 1945 to oppose the creation of a Jewish state. Arab armies intervened in 1948 to support the Palestinians against the newly declared State of Israel.
• Boycotts and non-recognition: Many Arab countries historically boycotted Israel and refused to recognize its existence.
• Continued Support for Palestinians: Despite some Arab nations normalizing relations with Israel in recent years, the Palestinian cause remains a significant driver of public opinion and policy in many Arab countries, according to a YouTube video. 

3. Core issues of the conflict

• Israeli settlements: Israel’s continued construction and expansion of settlements in the occupied territories are a major point of contention and are considered illegal under international law by many, according to the BBC.
• Status of Jerusalem: Both Israelis and Palestinians claim Jerusalem as their capital, fueling disputes over its status and control.
• Palestinian right of return: Palestinians insist on the right of return for refugees displaced in 1948, but Israel rejects this due to concerns about demographic changes within its borders.
• Security concerns: Both sides have legitimate security concerns and mistrust the intentions of the other side. 

4. Other contributing factors

• Religious interpretations: Some see the conflict through a religious lens, viewing the land as holy and belonging to either Jews or Muslims based on religious texts.
• Narrative and propaganda: Each side presents its own narrative, sometimes accompanied by propaganda that can fuel animosity and demonize the other side.
• Proxy conflicts: The Arab-Israeli conflict can also be intertwined with broader regional rivalries, particularly the Iran-Israel proxy conflict.  (source Google.com)

Other prophets are also venerated in Islam at the Temple Mount.  So all three religions respect each other’s religious motives and making this place a very holy and religious site. The temple Mount is not really a temple nor is there a temple currently standing on this site.  For the past several hundred years, it has been an Islamic holy site. So why is there so much drama around a 2,000-year-old platform? Ultimately, there is only one answer: because God has chosen it as it is written in the Bible and the Torah. Genesis 22 is the first reference of God choosing this location.

Israel has developed so much since it was established a country in 1948.  Why is that.  There are numerous reasons:

Factors contributing to Israel’s development

Several factors are often cited to explain Israel’s relative progress compared to some surrounding Arab countries:

• Strong Emphasis on Education and Human Capital: Israel has placed a high value on education and human resource development, according to Wikipedia. Its education system, characterized by flexibility and innovation, produces highly skilled graduates who drive economic progress, especially in the technology sector. A child born in Israel can expect to be 73% as productive as they could be with complete education and full health, which is higher than the average for both the Middle East & North Africa region and high-income countries, according to the World Bank.
• Culture of Innovation and Research & Development (R&D): Israel is known as the “Startup Nation” due to its thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem and high number of startups per capita. It has a culture that encourages research, invention, and risk-taking, which is essential for innovation. Israel spends more on R&D as a percentage of GDP than any other country in the world, including more than double the OECD average, says Harvard Kennedy School.
• Technologically Advanced Economy: Israel has a sophisticated and developed economy, particularly in the high-tech sector, including cybersecurity, AI, fintech, digital health, and other areas. This technological advancement is reflected in its exports, which include high-technology equipment, cut diamonds, and pharmaceuticals.
• Resilience and Adaptability: Despite facing security challenges and being relatively resource-poor, Israel has demonstrated economic resilience and adaptability. It has diversified its economy beyond traditional industries and has consistently achieved high GDP growth rates.
• Foreign Aid and Investment: The United States has provided substantial financial assistance to Israel, particularly in military aid, for decades. This support has contributed to Israel’s security and allowed it to develop its military and security capabilities.  (Source from Google.com)

In essence, Israel due to its progress has been the only country in the Middle East that has progressed and developed its technology and resources since its founding.  The Palestinians on the West Bank have solely depended on Israel Electric Corporation (IEC)   which supplies most of the electricity used in the Palestinian territories, including the West Bank. In addition, Israel’s national water company, Mekorot, supplies water to the West Bank. In reality, the Palestinians living in the West Bank and Gaza Strip are highly dependent on Israel for various aspects of their economy and daily lives.  This dependency is due to decades of Israel occupation and control over Palestinian territories and resources.

Why haven’t the Palestinian and other Arab countries progressed economically and technically compared to Israel?  The fact is that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and other conflicts and political instability throughout the Arab world have been a significant barrier to sustained economic development in many Arab nations and the Palestinian Territories.  (Source Google.com data).  Also, many Arab countries have faced challenges related to governance, transparency, and accountability, which can hinder economic growth and discourage investment.

So why is there is so much conflict between Israel and the Palestinians?  Here are some reasons:

1. Conflicting claims to land and self-determination

• Zionism and Arab Nationalism: Both movements emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries with conflicting aspirations over the same land – Mandatory Palestine, which is considered an ancestral homeland by Jews and historically belongs to Arab Palestinians in the pan-Arab and pan-Islamic context.
• Establishment of Israel and the Nakba: The 1948 Arab-Israeli War, following the declaration of the State of Israel, resulted in the displacement of over 750,000 Palestinians, who became refugees. This event, known as the Nakba (catastrophe), is a central and deeply traumatic element of Palestinian national identity and history.
• Israeli Occupation of Palestinian Territories: Since the 1967 Six-Day War, Israel has occupied the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip, territories Palestinians see as the foundation for their future state. 

2. Arab states and the Palestinian cause

• Arab League opposition: The Arab League was formed in 1945 to oppose the creation of a Jewish state. Arab armies intervened in 1948 to support the Palestinians against the newly declared State of Israel.
• Boycotts and non-recognition: Many Arab countries historically boycotted Israel and refused to recognize its existence.
• Continued Support for Palestinians: Despite some Arab nations normalizing relations with Israel in recent years, the Palestinian cause remains a significant driver of public opinion and policy in many Arab countries, according to a YouTube video. 

3. Core issues of the conflict

• Israeli settlements: Israel’s continued construction and expansion of settlements in the occupied territories are a major point of contention and are considered illegal under international law by many, according to the BBC.
• Status of Jerusalem: Both Israelis and Palestinians claim Jerusalem as their capital, fueling disputes over its status and control.
• Palestinian right of return: Palestinians insist on the right of return for refugees displaced in 1948, but Israel rejects this due to concerns about demographic changes within its borders.
• Security concerns: Both sides have legitimate security concerns and mistrust the intentions of the other side. 

4. Other contributing factors

• Religious interpretations: Some see the conflict through a religious lens, viewing the land as holy and belonging to either Jews or Muslims based on religious texts.
• Narrative and propaganda: Each side presents its own narrative, sometimes accompanied by propaganda that can fuel animosity and demonize the other side.
• Proxy conflicts: The Arab-Israeli conflict can also be intertwined with broader regional rivalries, particularly the Iran-Israel proxy conflict.  (source Google.com)

Other prophets are also venerated in Islam at the Temple Mount.  So all three religions respect each other’s religious motives and making this place a very holy and religious site. The temple Mount is not really a temple nor is there a temple currently standing on this site.  For the past several hundred years, it has been an Islamic holy site. So why is there so much drama around a 2,000-year-old platform? Ultimately, there is only one answer: because God has chosen it as it is written in the Bible and the Torah. Genesis 22 is the first reference of God choosing this location.

Israel has developed so much since it was established a country in 1948.  Why is that.  There are numerous reasons:

Factors contributing to Israel’s development

Several factors are often cited to explain Israel’s relative progress compared to some surrounding Arab countries:

• Strong Emphasis on Education and Human Capital: Israel has placed a high value on education and human resource development, according to Wikipedia. Its education system, characterized by flexibility and innovation, produces highly skilled graduates who drive economic progress, especially in the technology sector. A child born in Israel can expect to be 73% as productive as they could be with complete education and full health, which is higher than the average for both the Middle East & North Africa region and high-income countries, according to the World Bank.
• Culture of Innovation and Research & Development (R&D): Israel is known as the “Startup Nation” due to its thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem and high number of startups per capita. It has a culture that encourages research, invention, and risk-taking, which is essential for innovation. Israel spends more on R&D as a percentage of GDP than any other country in the world, including more than double the OECD average, says Harvard Kennedy School.
• Technologically Advanced Economy: Israel has a sophisticated and developed economy, particularly in the high-tech sector, including cybersecurity, AI, fintech, digital health, and other areas. This technological advancement is reflected in its exports, which include high-technology equipment, cut diamonds, and pharmaceuticals.
• Resilience and Adaptability: Despite facing security challenges and being relatively resource-poor, Israel has demonstrated economic resilience and adaptability. It has diversified its economy beyond traditional industries and has consistently achieved high GDP growth rates.
• Foreign Aid and Investment: The United States has provided substantial financial assistance to Israel, particularly in military aid, for decades. This support has contributed to Israel’s security and allowed it to develop its military and security capabilities.  (Source from Google.com)

In essence, Israel due to its progress has been the only country in the Middle East that has progressed and developed its technology and resources since its founding.  The Palestinians on the West Bank have solely depended on Israel Electric Corporation (IEC)   which supplies most of the electricity used in the Palestinian territories, including the West Bank. In addition, Israel’s national water company, Mekorot, supplies water to the West Bank. In reality, the Palestinians living in the West Bank and Gaza Strip are highly dependent on Israel for various aspects of their economy and daily lives.  This dependency is due to decades of Israel occupation and control over Palestinian territories and resources.

Why haven’t the Palestinian and other Arab countries progressed economically and technically compared to Israel?  The fact is that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and other conflicts and political instability throughout the Arab world have been a significant barrier to sustained economic development in many Arab nations and the Palestinian Territories.  (Source Google.com data).  Also, many Arab countries have faced challenges related to governance, transparency, and accountability, which can hinder economic growth and discourage investment.

So why is there is so much conflict between Israel and the Palestinians?  Here are some reasons:

1. Conflicting claims to land and self-determination

• Zionism and Arab Nationalism: Both movements emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries with conflicting aspirations over the same land – Mandatory Palestine, which is considered an ancestral homeland by Jews and historically belongs to Arab Palestinians in the pan-Arab and pan-Islamic context.
• Establishment of Israel and the Nakba: The 1948 Arab-Israeli War, following the declaration of the State of Israel, resulted in the displacement of over 750,000 Palestinians, who became refugees. This event, known as the Nakba (catastrophe), is a central and deeply traumatic element of Palestinian national identity and history.
• Israeli Occupation of Palestinian Territories: Since the 1967 Six-Day War, Israel has occupied the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip, territories Palestinians see as the foundation for their future state. 

2. Arab states and the Palestinian cause

• Arab League opposition: The Arab League was formed in 1945 to oppose the creation of a Jewish state. Arab armies intervened in 1948 to support the Palestinians against the newly declared State of Israel.
• Boycotts and non-recognition: Many Arab countries historically boycotted Israel and refused to recognize its existence.
• Continued Support for Palestinians: Despite some Arab nations normalizing relations with Israel in recent years, the Palestinian cause remains a significant driver of public opinion and policy in many Arab countries, according to a YouTube video. 

3. Core issues of the conflict

• Israeli settlements: Israel’s continued construction and expansion of settlements in the occupied territories are a major point of contention and are considered illegal under international law by many, according to the BBC.
• Status of Jerusalem: Both Israelis and Palestinians claim Jerusalem as their capital, fueling disputes over its status and control.
• Palestinian right of return: Palestinians insist on the right of return for refugees displaced in 1948, but Israel rejects this due to concerns about demographic changes within its borders.
• Security concerns: Both sides have legitimate security concerns and mistrust the intentions of the other side. 

4. Other contributing factors

• Religious interpretations: Some see the conflict through a religious lens, viewing the land as holy and belonging to either Jews or Muslims based on religious texts.
• Narrative and propaganda: Each side presents its own narrative, sometimes accompanied by propaganda that can fuel animosity and demonize the other side.
• Proxy conflicts: The Arab-Israeli conflict can also be intertwined with broader regional rivalries, particularly the Iran-Israel proxy conflict.  (source Google.com)