2 Friday, March 19, 1976
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
Purely Cor:mentary
Truth About Jerusalem's
Status . . . Challenge to
World Public Opinion
Jerusalem, the historic Jewish City of
Peace, remains an object for controversy due
to Arab intransigence and religious prejud-
ice. Is the problem solvable?
The Vatican is a bone of contention.
Only under Israel's administration has a
peaceful atmosphere been created in Jerusa-
lem for all religious elements. Is the Vatican
seeking domination and therefore is anta-
gonistic to Jewish administrative hegemony
in the Holy City whence Jews never de-
parted?
Arabs seek power and Jordan's King
Hussein would like to save face by regaining
control' of Jerusalem. It was under his rule
that Jews had no rights whatever in the an-
cient city whence they were ousted in 1948.
Therefore the diabolical teammates who
would undermine Jewish rights in the city of
their ancestry.
Yet there is hope that rational actions
may yet be attained to secure recognition for
the city ' s status under a Jewish government,
with an admission that charges of abuses
and destructive acts by Israelis have been re-
futed by an important international commit-
tee.
Some of the world's most prominent
town planners and archeologists were
among the 40 members of the Jerusalem
Committee who studied existing conditions
and issued a report that exonerates Israel
and repudiates the accusers.
An indication of the importance of the
Jerusalem Committee and the prominence of
its components is indicated in the signatures
appended to the report. The committee
members included:
Manuel Aguilar, publisher,
Madrid; Prof. Jaap Bakema, archi-
tect, Rotterdam; Prof. Hellmut
Becker, director, Max Planck Insti-
tute, Berlin; Prof. Max Bill, archi-
tect and writer, Zurich; Etienne
Boegner, of the World Council of
Churches, New York; The Rev. Wil-
liam G.M. Brandful, general secre-
tary, Christian Council of Ghana;
Prof. Jacques Courvoisier, professor
of ecclesiastical history, Geneva;
Prof. Mario Cravo, Jr. sculptor,
Brazil; Sizto A. Duran-Ballen,
Mayor of Quito, Ecuador; Prof. Leon
A. Feldman, historian, New York;
Prof. Luigi Gedda, director, Istituto
di Genetica ,Medica, Rome; Prof.
Charles M. Haar, chairman, Joint
Center for Urban Studies, Harvard
University and Massachusetts Insti-
tute of Technology; Lawrence Hal-
prin, architect, San Francisco; Prof.
Britton Harris, Philadelphia; Karl
Katz, director of exhibitions, Metro-
politan Museum, New York; Denys
Lasdun, architect, London; Saul
Lieberman, rector, Jewish TheolOgi-
cal Seminary, New York; Dr. En-
rique De Marchena D., diplomat,
Domincan Republic; Harry Maye-
rovitch, architect, Montreal; Sam-
uel _R. Mozes, director, Bureau of
Urban Affairs, New York State; Dr.
Franklin D. Murphy, chairman of
the board, Times-Minor Corp., Los
Angeles; Prof. Jacques Nantet,
writer, Paris; Dr. Ursula Niebuhr,
theologian, Massachusetts; Rev. Dr.
Roger Ortmayer, National Council
of Churches, United States; Dr.
Paul Peters, editor, Baumeister,
Munich; Prof. Luigi Piccinato, town
planner, Rome; Monica Pidgeon,
editor, Journal of the Royal Institute
of British Architects; Diana Rown-
tree, architect, journalist, England;
Dr. Willem Sandberg, museum di-
rector, Amsterdam; Prof. Goran Si-
denbladh, town planner, Stockholm;
Sir George Weidenfeld, publisher,
London; Prof. Bruno Zevi, architect,
Rome.
Here are the major facts excerpted from
the Jerusalem Committee report:
More than two years have
passed since the last meeting of the
Jerusalem's Role and the Diabolical Attempts to Harm
Israel's Legacies . . . Internationally Noted Scholars Join
in Declaration Repudiating Prejudicial Attacks
Jerusalem Committee, a period of
crucial events in this ancient city,
this region and throughout the
world.
The committee was satisfied to
discover that the delicate fabric of
intercommunal relations has largely
withstood the challenges of the Octo-
ber War and its aftermath. Indeed
the committee was deeply impressed
with the evidence of a spirited qual-
ity of life clearly related to the mo-
bility and interchange provided by a
united city and also due to marked
improvement in the physical envi-
ronment with new and better hous-
ing and a growing system of parks
and recreational and cultural facili-
ties. The committee believes that
this has been achieved by the imple-
mentation, in letter and spirit, of
that universal brotherhood which
was discussed by the committee at
its second plenary meeting.
In a world of distressing fric-
tions and intolerance, Jerusalem
observes and encourages religious
and communal freedom, full access
to its Holy Places and shrines of
worship, a deep respect for the cul-
tural and historical heritage of all
its citizens, and beyond that, for all
mankind. Attempts to break the
peace through acts of terror or civil
disturbance that have recently oc-
curred or may recur should not de-
flect or deter the responsible guardi-
ans of this universal city from the
continued policy of ever-increasing
intercommunal cooperation.
The committee acknowledges
the energy, imagination and sensi-
tivity which Mayor Kollek and his
colleagues are applying to the prob-
lems as well as the opportunities to
be found in the now unified city.
Especially is it impressed by the de-
dication, objectivity and sophistica-
tion being brought to bear on the ex-
cavation and restoration of the relics
and the rich past of the city, carried
out with due respect for theintegrity
of all the existing holy and historical
places. Recognizing their unique
and heavy responsibility, a group of
highly qualified archeologists is un-
covering heretofore unsuspected and
important physical aspects of all' of
the great cultures and faiths — Ju-
daism, Christianity, and Islam — to
which Jerusalem has been home for
thousands of years. It is already
evident that when these projects are
completed, investigation, excavation
and restoration will have become
revelation and historical clarifica-
tion. The commitment of the govern-
ment and the skill of its archeolo-
gists have put the civilized world in
their debt.
Having once again visited Jeru-
salem and recalling its earlier rec-
ommendations for physical planning
and development, the committee
notes with gratification that much
has been accomplished in imple-
menting its proposals. We are happy
to note a sense of orderly growth and
stability mindful of change.
The committee is pleased with
the fact that a clear and definitive
delineation of the boundaries of the
city has been made. It is pleased
with the establishment of the two
significant green belts: i.e., the in-
ner green belt surrounding the
walled Old City and the outer green
belt along the boundaries of the en-
tire municipality.
The committee acknowledges
that the city has made a strong ef-
fort to adjust its physical develop-
ment to the actual rate of growth of
population at the present time.
The committee notes with satis-
faction that the extensive superhigh-
way system proposed in an earlier
version of the city's master plan has
been withdrawn with the exception
of one major arterial road from
north to south.
Since the city is embarking on a
significant program of development
and re-development of its business
areas, the committee expresses its
concern about theproper re-use and
preservation of existing buildings
and sections that continue to be of
value and utility. We feel that at this
juncture it would be desirable and
advantageous to develop comprehen-
sive area-wide plans for the central
business district and for other busi-
ness districts that the city may wish
to promote.
The committee is pleased to note
that the municipality has made a
strong effort towards a more deci-
sive control of the height of buildings
and that in fact it has succeeded in
persuading developers who already
possessed building permits to dis-
continue their plans for high-rise
construction. We highly recommend
that concrete efforts be made to limit
further construction to the height of
a maximum of eight stories and it is
satisfying to observe that where
taller buildings are already con-
structed or are under construction, a
careful counter-balance is provided
in terms of corresponding low-rise
construction and open space.
The committee notes with satis-
faction that strong efforts have been
undertaken for the purpose of his-
toric preservation with the registra-
tion of 1,100 buildings for special
protection and preservation along
with the general attempt to maintain
and revitalize streets and sites of
historic value as well as entire
neighborhoods of that nature. The
committee recommends that greater
efforts be made in the direction of
tout ensemble (i.e. complete plan-
ning unit) planning.
The committee supports the
municipality's continued efforts to-
ward social planning. These consist,
among other things, of protective
measures in neighborhoods and local
communities for the advancement of
`the mosaic approach.' The role of
neighborhood committees in cooper-
ation with the municipality in the
promotion of diversity of local com-
munity life as well as the creation of
such physical developments as local
playgrounds, small parks, green
places, schools, libraries, and other
.community facilities should be
strengthened.
The committee recommends that
citizen participation in planning and
development be further enhanced by
considering at an appropriate time
the adoption of a more formal status
for existing neighborhood commit-
tees which may further contribute to
the achievement of even smaller
scale diversity and self-fulfillment
on the part of the residents.
The committee is impressed by
the extraordinary and careful efforts
of the municipality in bringing the
walled Old City to its former charm
and splendor. The committee notes
the substantial progress in rebuild-
ing the Jewish Quarter of the Old
City, with respect both for tradition
and contemporary requirements,
wherein architectural imperfections
appear to be subordinated to the
overall quality.
Equally impressive is the out-
standing achievement of the Jerusa-
lem Moslem Council (Waqf) in resto-
ration of the Moslem holy places and
especially the reconstruction of the
Al Aqsa Mosque, which is being car-
ried forward with consummate care,
skill, and craftsmanship.
Outstanding is the initiative,
imagination and planning which is
leading to the creation of an 'ar-
cheological garden' adjacent to the
South Wall of the Temple Mount
By Philip
Slomovitz
n4 71:fier
which is being carried out with the
utmost care and skill.
Another important contribution
to the life and resources of the com-
munity is the tastefully designed
Armenian Seminary which was most
recently completed, thus adding a
new dimension to Christian activity
within the city.
In reviewing the full range of
planning and development activity
in Jerusalem, the committee is dis-
turbed by the prolonged absence of
both a chief planner and city engi-
neer . . . The committee senses the
need for creating a plan document
primarily concerned with the entire
planning process and guidelines for
future action thus providing for a
continuous process of planning re-
sponsible to experience and change
rather than producing a rigid sta-
tionary plan. It is likely that through
a wide dissemination of such a docu-
ment, a more equal distribution' of
development can be achieved
throughout the community . .
The committee would like to
acknowledge the successful efforts
made in the field of education. Ever-
ywhere we observed the building of
new schools, appropriately located,
serving all ethnic and religious
groups. Especially does the commit-
tee applaud the action within the ed-
ucational system of Jerusalem, per-
mitting schools, Christian and
Moslem alike, to allow their stu-
dents to choose a curriculum that
gives them the opportunity of choice
to continue their education in Israeli
universities as well as universities in
Arab countries.
The committee finds it neces-
sary to express its conviction that
Jerusalem is and should remain a
united city, humane and universal.
In the views of the committee, those
at present responsible for adminis-
tering the city have proved them-
selves conscious of the trust to serve
the best interests not only of its in-
habitants but of all mankind.
Finally, the committee calls
upon the peoples of the world and on
all international organizations to
recognize their responsibility to ir
sist those engaged in planning any
executing the restoration and devel-
opment of this universal city, Jeru-
salem, by intensifying their interest
and concern aid providing suppor`
for this important work.
Were there the slightest hope that Is-
rael's enemies could be induced to listen to
reason there would be hope for amity stem-
ming from reports like this one. But the ears
of the mighty have been shut, the enemies of
Israel are adamant, the defenders Of just
rights for Israel are confronting many obsta-
cles. The aim is to open ears and eyes so that
those who stand in the way of peace may
hear the truth and see the facts. Then the
City of Peace can become the center for the
amity first for the Middle East and then for
all mankind.