You know what I truly think?
You know in your mind you'll never allow Mecca/ Medina in anyone's hands other than muslims. Yet when I make the same reference to Jerusalem you will not accept it. It comes out a sense of historically warped hypocrisy. The true importance of Jerusalem probably emerged when the Prophet saw it in his vision where he meets all the other Prophets in Jerusalem. That's the religious significance of the place. When ISlam was on the rise, the conquest of Jerusalem because of these reasons was prominent- another Jewel in the Islamic crown. Partially because the Jews did not operate as a martial group then, it was easy and you took it.
That act was ALWAYS destined to be opposed.While the jews were not organized then, there was another Abrahamic religion which did try to wrest back the land. And that's how the crusades happened. They may have faled, but like I said in civilizational logic, the attempt to reclaim the sacred land will NEVER stop and the determined effeorts to create Israel just proves that even 1400 years later the effort continued. For most of Islamic history the jews were never considered a threat. They were 'shady merchants', pansies and cowards. But 20th century holocaust makes them reinvent themselves- tough soldiers, farmers and political leaders. Unlike your grandparents you can no longer call them 'behind the scenes blood-sucking merchants and usurers'. Your own kind has been battered by their valor and courage. It is the old stereotype that is making you use words like 'legitimacy' and not give Jerusalem the place of significance it should otherwise get for their religion. But then they aren't concerned. This really is the jewish civilization re-asserting itself. You can't do anything. The same way I can't do anything about what you guys do in Mecca. To the muslims Jerusalem might be of importance because the Prohet flew there in his Vision, but as far as the jews are concerned, it's of no consequence, he might as well have flown to Paris or New York.
