“Mountain air clear as wine…”   Only in November 2004, Israel declared HaTikvah as its national anthem. The long delay since Ben Gurion declared independence in 1948 and the formal definition of an anthem emphasizes the level of controversy surrounding its lyrics. On February 28, 2012, Salim Jubran—Israel’s only Arab Justice and descended from Lebanese Christian Maronites—refused to sing it during the Presidents of the Supreme Court’s exchange ceremony. Also Jews have problems with its text. This is so because of its denial of God and the Bible, and its referring to Zion—one of Jerusalem’s mounts—as being on “East’s End.” In other words, the text is fit for secular Jews living in Brooklyn. Another song—deeply related to the 1967 War—is vastly more accepted by the Jewish-Israeli public as their unofficial national hymn. “Jerusalem of Gold” was written in 1967—just before the war—and describes the longing for a return to Jerusalem. After the war, a verse alluding to the Israeli brutal conquest was added. In a very poetic language, and making allusion to the Bible, the song has a definitely violent undertone; probably this is why it became so popular with Israelis. Most foreigners know it as the closing theme in Schindler’s List; in Israel the end of the movie was replaced by “Eli, Eli” (“My God, My God”), after the first Israeli viewers laughed at the use of a militaristic, 1967 song, with deference to the Holocaust. Neither less laughable, nor less Zionist, were Mitt Romney declarations during his visit to Israel, during the last days of July 2012.

Jerusalem at World’s Center

Romney in Jerusalem

Much has been written about the friendship between Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. Presidential candidate Mitt Romney (see Romney, Obama, and the Israeli Vote), which goes all the way back to 1976. Yet, nothing predicted the magnitude of Romney’s declarations while visiting the city which “its name burns the lips,” as the abovementioned song states. The allusion to these words is not casual; either Romney burned his lips and his career, or he knows something we still do not know and is about to win a major victory and lead the world into a religious war. “In the mountain’s caves, winds howl,” continues the song that predicted a war. Romney howled; we were in awe.

“Jerusalem of gold, and of copper, and of light… to your songs I am violin”

Reflecting the golden sunsets of Jerusalem—the stones used for coating buildings there give beautiful reflections—Romney fired in all directions. In the pictures from his visit, Romney looks a bit childish and insecure, as if looking for reassurance from Papa Netanyahu. Yet, his words and actions were so clear and extremist, that Netanyahu had no choice but concede: “Mitt, I couldn’t agree with you more.” The personal friendship between the two was evident even in the small gestures of Romney towards the Israeli parliament. Romney—breaking all rules of protocol—refused to meet Labor Party Chairwoman Shelly Yacimovich. In the last months, Israeli opposition in the Knesset had been alternatively led by Shaul Mofaz from Kadima and Ms. Yacimovich. Before Romney’s arrival, meetings between the American leader and both Knesset Members were agreed, including two-minute press-conferences at their end. At the last moment, the conference with Ms. Yacimovich was cancelled; the Hebrew media attributed that to a specific request by Netanyahu. The latter didn’t want to elevate his rival's status; both are engaged on a public dispute on economic policies. Romney complied happily, poignantly attributing the cancellation on protocol issues.

The golden light Romney shone on Yacimovich was just the prelude of the copper Romney planned shooting at Tehran. Before his arrival at Israel, Mr. Romney has suggested that he would not make any significant policy decisions about Israel without consulting Mr. Netanyahu. Then, hours before his meeting with Netanyahu, Romney's senior national security aide Dan Senor said “the Republican presidential candidate would respect Israel’s decision if it were to take action on its own in order to stop Iran from attaining nuclear weapons.” During his meeting with President Peres, he was told by the latter that the U.S. policy is to stop a nuclear Iran through the least dangerous means, but that all options are on the table. Romney listened carefully; his only obvious answer to the Iranian issue was given in the press conference with Netanyahu: “Israel’s perspective with regards to Iran and its effort to become a nuclear capable nation is one I look to with great seriousness,” said Romney. Romney was so cautious in his initial statements given while still in London that the Hebrew media made fun of him; this effect was emphasized by the unequivocal feeling to the Hebrew ear that Romney was supporting the Israeli position as much as he could during a presidential–campaign visit on foreign soil.

Up to this point everything was expected, even his lukewarm declarations regarding Palestine (“two countries, no to Hamas”). Up to this point there was no justification for paying attention to the visit. A bit of light on Labor, a bit of copper coated bullets on Tehran, but there was no gold. Then, out of the blue, Romney became violin to Jerusalem’s songs. After he met Israeli leaders, Romney gave a public speech in Jerusalem; many of the Jewish settlers living in the area are American citizens and may vote for him. With the Old City in the background, Romney said it was a “moving experience to be in Jerusalem,” describing it as “Israel’s capital.” He claimed that if he were elected president, the American embassy would be moved to Jerusalem. That was the gold Netanyahu was expecting.

Romney Netanyahu | Jerusalem 2012

“The city which alone sits, and in her heart a wall…”

In the eyes of the Israeli Administration, Jerusalem has been unified through the 1980 Basic Law: Jerusalem, Capital of Israel. Israel lacks a constitution; instead it features an incomplete system of basic laws, which do not cover issues like human rights. This violates conditions imposed on its independence by the UN. The world swiftly opposed this law. UN Security Council Resolution 478, adopted by fourteen votes to none, with the abstention of the United States of America, declared that the law was “null and void” and “must be rescinded.” The resolution also called upon member states to withdraw their diplomatic missions from the city. Accordingly, the American embassy is located along Tel Aviv’s promenade, its members ready to be evacuated by the U.S. Sixth Fleet if a war erupts.

Jerusalem considered as a major issue by the recognition-thirsty Zionist administration. After all, what kind of country is unable to get its capital city recognized? Such an American recognition would be followed by a few other countries and lead to a construction boom in Jerusalem, strengthening the Israeli annexation efforts on the eastern part of the city. “Divide and Conquer” is probably the best description of the Israeli policy towards the Arab world. It is also known as the “Salami System,” due to its technique: “slice and eat, slice and eat.” Stone by stone, Israel is eating Jerusalem. Some stones are difficult to cut, demanding sharp knives produced only by overseas friends. Romney is preparing such a sharp knife. If he wins and Israel gets Jerusalem recognized as its capital, a key step towards Israel’s digestion of Jerusalem would have taken place. The construction of a Third Temple on the place now occupied by al-Aqsa would be closer than ever.

This is not a hypothetical topic. On January 5, 2011, there was a very controversial publication by the IDF Military Rabbinate (see Military Rabbinate Plans Third Temple). The pamphlet issued for Hanukkah described the Jewish revolt against Hellenistic rule and included a section named “The Festival of Jewish Heroism,” which included an article and a quiz. In a picture accompanying it, the Dome of the Rock mosque had been edited out.

Temple Mount before | Temple Mount after

This can be seen in the “before” and “after” pictures reproduced above. The “before” shows the actual situation, with the Dome of the Rock and the Western Wall Esplanade. The “after,” which was taken from the pamphlet, shows only the Western Wall Esplanade. The Military Rabbinate deleted the Dome of the Rock. The IDF Spokesman’s Office said in response to complaints that these were “absurd and biased, a fact which we can only regret; the educational packet included a photo meant to illustrate Jerusalem during the period of the Second Temple.” Yet, the Jewish Quarter houses seen in the Military Rabbinate pamphlet didn’t exist during the period of the Second Temple. Why didn’t the Military Rabbinate delete them as well? This means that the picture is a picture of the future, not of the past. Let me emphasize that such a publication must be approved by high-ranking officers. It wasn’t an error of a young military rabbi too eager to be promoted.

There are other related events. On March 2010, the Fourth Hurva Synagogue was inaugurated in Jerusalem’s Muslim Quarter. This temple is deeply related to the Second Temple and is widely seen as an event preceding the construction of the Third Temple (Ruin of Jerusalem: the Third Temple). Apparently, Israel is stepping up the preparations for the construction of the Third Temple, and an American presidential candidate who belongs to a very unorthodox Christian sect is more than happy to cooperate, showing nothing but utter ignorance of the Scriptures.

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