jERUSALEM 1957: dIVIDED!
The Kotel - "What a pity it's not in our hands."
“ Today I got a real close up view of the old City. I even saw Arabs looking at us with machine guns and Spy Glasses.”
July 27, 1957
“This afternoon mass services are held at Mt. Zion overlooking the Wailing Wall.
What a pity it’s not in our hands.”
August 6, 1957
David's Comments
Do we take the Kotel and Jerusalem for granted?
Bob on the East-West Jerusalem border in 1957. In the background is the Old City, under Jordanian rule.
President Trump, the first US president to visit the Kotel under Israeli rule.
Jewish families expelled from the Old City by Jordan after Jordanian soldiers took control of East Jerusalem in 1948.
Bob and his wife Elaine at the Kotel 1968, one year after its liberation during the 1967 War.
In 1957, the Kotel was Off Limits to the Jews
In 1957, the Wailing Wall, also known as the Kotel or Western Wall was under Jordanian rule. Ten years earlier, in 1947, the United Nations approved a partition plan that provided for two states – one Jewish and one Arab. Jerusalem was supposed to be an international city with freedom of access to holy sites for all religions. But the Arab world rejected the partition plan, and a full-scale war broke out following Israel's declaration of independence in May of 1948.
How the Division Came About
The battle for Jerusalem was fierce, and when the smoke cleared, Jerusalem was divided: the western half became part of the new State of Israel. The eastern half, including the Old City, was occupied by Jordan as the Jewish community of east Jerusalem were expelled. Under Jordanian rule, access to the Jewish holy sites including the Kotel was denied. The ancient Jewish cemetery on the Mount of Olives was desecrated and burial of Jews there was forbidden.
1967 – United!
As a result of the 6-Day War in 1967, Israel liberated east Jerusalem – the Kotel and Mount of Olives were now in Jewish hands. Unlike their 1957 visit to Israel, my parents' wish came true in 1968 when they came to Israel and prayed at the Kotel. With the Temple Mount in our hands, we gained more than just the Kotel – we paved the way for the building of the Third Temple!
1957 vs today
In 1957, exxxxx
Today, oxxxxxx