Jewish free for all

Whose Jerusalem? by Terence Prittic £9.95)
FOR THOSE who have a loving attachment for the city of Jerusalem, as the author obviously has, they will find his book a pragmatic, factual. historical. critical, concerned (in the Quaker sense) research into this most ancient of cities.
Throughout the Israeli-Arab conflict he has defended the Israeli case, and emphatically maintained that Jerusalem must remain united as it has been since 1967, with all its inhabitants, Jews, Muslim Arabs and Christians being helped to live as free individuals. The picture he paints is not black nor white.
It is refreshing to find a British Gentile writing in a positive way on this subject. We are so accustomed to non-Israelis continuing to "stir it up" goaded by politics. oil cynicism. or just plain fanatic anti-Judaism, as well as those who use more guarded methods, such as Christians who are galled at the idea that their Holy Places should in any way be in contact with a Jewish state. All these groups would drive to a divided city if they dared.
If only more people would see that a united Jerusalem is blooming, improved, with freedom for all in religious matters. Under
that most dynamic, open-minded, caring Mayor of Jerusalem, Teddy Kolleck, there is a genuine air of peace and progressive optimism. for he has done more than most in endeavouring to bring Jew, Arab and Christian together.
Of special interest to readers of a religious newspaper is Prittie's section headed, "Trustees of Three World Religions", though many Christians will "gnash their teeth" if they read it, for he destroys by evidence, the dearly held opinion that the Christian churches, and their Holy Places are being subjected to suppression and even persecution. Jordan brought war to the Holy City and left it in Israel's keeping. From 1967, by law, by declaration and by practice, the policy of the government has been that the Muslim and Christian Holy Places should always be under the responsibility of those who hold them sacred. There are numerous quotations from Christian prelates and heads of churches acknowledging that the government, and particularly Mayor Kolleck have been scrupulous in their "genuine regard for the Holy Places".
Of course there have been Jewish fanatics bitter against everyone but themselves, and so too. there have been similar Muslims and Christians, and as a -result there are new problems and anxieties every day. The author says, a reasonable summary is "what the Israelis could claim, incontestably, is that they have scrupulously maintained freedom of worship, the rights of different religious communities to manage their own affairs and administer their own institutions, and complete freedom of access to all Holy Places".
To end this review, a quotation from the introduction by Teddy Kolleck should suffice (though we know it will not).
"The Mayor of Jerusalem cannot solve the problems of the Middle East or the Arab-Israel dispute; but we have attempted to create in Jerusalem an atmosphere of peace, of tolerance, and of mutual understanding in spite of the absence of political consensus. We are convinced that this will ultimately be conducive to the creation of conditions which will help lay the foundation for peace in the Middle East.
"Terence Prittie's thorough research has produced a book which makes it immensely readable for those who are interested in Jerusalem. For the student of Jerusalem, it is surely required reading".
Graham Jenkins