REPORTS FROM JERUSALEM YESTERDAY AND TODAY

Jerusalem, Judea

Scribe Jonathan

Spring, 30 A.D.

Salome and Zebedee, prominent citizens from Bethsaida by the Sea of Galilee, arrived recently in Jerusalem. They had come, so they said, to observe the Passover, a Jewish feast day dating from the time their people had been liberated from slavery in the Land of Goshe, Egypt.

"We had hoped to see Jesus," Zebedee told this scribe. "He is the Galilean our sons James and John had been following because they believe him to be the Promised Messiah who would bring peace to the land."

Asked if they had been successful, Salome, after a brief glance at Zebedee, as if for permission to speak, said, "Yes, we had a very good view. Jerusalem has been very crowded these days so we used an old trick to get up high and look down. We climbed, daily, to the rooftop of a friend's house to look out over the city.

"One day there was a commotion near the Fish Gate and we soon made out a joyful company of people making their way into the city. Women and children were strewing palm branches along the roadway. Behind the rode someone on a donkey, followed by many others afoot who waved flowers and palm branches and shouted "Hosanna, hosanna to the King."

"We knew then that it was Jesus. The slow-moving column disappeared for a moment behind a higher building, then emerged again right below us. We could now see Jesus very clearly. He looked tired and there were tears in his eyes and he was saying something that we strained to hear.

"Zebedee said he thought Jesus seemed to be talking to everyone the whole city of Jerusalem. We both caught snatches of what he was saying, `Would that even today you knew the things that make for peace! But now they are hid from your eyes ... your enemies will surround you ... they will not leave one stone upon another ...'"

Jerusalem, Israel

Global News staff reporter

Spring, 1991 A.D.

A representative from the United States recently took a helicopter tour over what is known as the West Bank, that disputed parcel of land west of the Jordan River that juts about thirty miles into Israel toward the Mediterranean both above and below Jerusalem but not including Jerusalem. On a shaded map the West Bank appears to be some large face with mouth opened, about to swallow Jerusalem. Israel, once known as Palestine and before that, Cannan, says this land is theirs, made so in 1948. The Palestinians who lived there when Israel was carved of the territory and made a state say it is theirs.

It was thought that if the U.S. representative who is trying desperately to find some basis for peace between the quarreling factions could get away from the crowd, get up high and look down, he would more readily see what the troublesome geographic situation is. Especially was it pointed out to him the Golan Heights to the north which Israel says is theirs and Syria, yet another quarreling country, says is theirs.

The one attempting to explain the geographic situation said, "See how easy it would be for all of Israel to be pulverized by enemy gunfire from the top of those heights which look down on all of Israel? And as for the West Bank, that part we're flying over right now, it is populated mostly by Palestinians who laughed and cheered when they saw and heard Saddam Hussein's Scud missiles go over to land and splatter destruction in Israel. Such is the hatred in this land that was once called the Land of Promise.

Back on the landing pad, after the dignitaries had gone their way, this reporter noticed a group of persons who were having a discussion of current affairs concerning the quarrel between the Jews and Arabs. One was hard to ask,, "How long has this been going on?" Another answered, "In one way or another ever since the time of the half brothers, Isaac and Ishmael. Isaac was the true heir to the Covenant made by God to Abraham. But God also said he would make of Ishmael's descendants a great nation."

The conversation continued.

"And has no one in all that time outlined a way for peace?"

"One."

"Didn't it ever, at any time, work?"

"No."

"What happened to the one who proposed the plan?"

"They killed him."

It was nearing dark, time for this reporter to file his report. From a minaret came a doleful call to prayer. Somewhere in the distance a dog barked. Nearer at hand, drifting from an opened window, was the soft voice of someone singing in a minor key. Words were indistinct but seemed to be something like, "Jerusalem, oh Jerusalem, would that today, even today, you knew the things that make for peace."

REJOICE!