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A Return To Violence

To many people in Israel last week, history seemed to be running backward. Three years of hard work starting to build peace between the Palestinians and Israelis, who share this troubled land, were unraveling in a hail of rocks and bullets. What began as a Palestinian protest in Jerusalem spread to become a bloody conflict throughout the country. By Friday, 59 Palestinians and 14 Israelis were dead in the country's worst violence in almost 30 years.

The violence was triggered by Israel's decision to open a door to a tunnel in Jerusalem. The 6-foot-wide, 400-yard-long tunnel runs alongside al-Aksa Mosque, one of Islam's holiest shrines. The tunnel, which was dug by Israelis, has been used by tourists for years to view ancient ruins. Without the new entrance, tourists had to retrace their steps to get out. The tight squeeze kept the number of visitors down.

To Palestinians, who are Muslims, this new entrance was an insult. They believe it threatens their control of the city's holy sites and demonstrates Israel's desire to keep all of Jerusalem.

The Israelis argue that the tunnel is far away from the Muslims' holy sites. But Israeli authorities knew that their decision would cause trouble. The tunnel was opened under cover of darkness and the protection of soldiers.

Both the Palestinians and the Israelis claim the same territory as their ancient homeland. Both groups view Jerusalem as a holy city. After it captured Jerusalem from Jordan in the 1967 Arab- Israeli War, Israel claimed the city as its capital. The Palestinians want East Jerusalem to be the capital of a future Palestinian state. At peace talks in 1993 and 1995, Israelis and Palestinians realized that deciding how to share Jerusalem would be very hard. They agreed to keep discussing the city's future.

New Leader, New Tensions
Last May, Israel held elections for a new Prime Minister. Benjamin Netanyahu promised "peace and security." He warned that his opponent Shimon Peres was not really tough enough to protect Israel in the future.

Netanyahu won a very close election. Since then, Palestinians have complained that he has not followed through with peace agreements. He has been slow to give Palestinians control of land in the West Bank and has not withdrawn Israeli soldiers from the West Bank city of Hebron as promised. He has also angered Palestinians with plans to build Israeli settlements in the West Bank. For Palestinians, the opening of the tunnel was the last straw. "At least with Peres the dream of an independent Palestine was still alive," says Ali Jirbawi, a Palestinian professor. "Netanyahu shattered this dream."

Does Peace Have A Chance?
In the past, Palestinians fought the Israelis with rocks, sticks and homemade bombs. Last week's violence was different. Palestinians now have a police force. It was created to protect the peace, but the police are armed with rifles. For three years, the Palestinian cops have worked alongside Israeli soldiers. Last week the Palestinians turned their guns on the Israelis.

Netanyahu argues that Israel is battling for the right to "live here in real peace." He accused Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat of encouraging the violence.

Does peace stand a chance? Perhaps, if both sides remember a scene from an Israeli television news broadcast last week. As a wounded Israeli soldier cried out in pain, a Palestinian medic shouted, "Don't be afraid of me. I'll help you." For a brief moment, the fighting stopped and the Palestinian carried the Israeli to safety.

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Jerusalem: Holy City, Battlefield
Jerusalem is a city of faith, blood and tears. For centuries, Jews, Muslims and Christians have considered it to be sacred ground. And, for centuries, these groups have battled over its fate.

Today Christians who visit the city honor their faith by walking the same path they believe Jesus walked carrying the Cross. They visit the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, which marks the spot where Jesus is believed to have been buried. Jews from around the world come to pray at the Western Wall, a remnant of the great temple that was destroyed in the year A.D. 70. For Muslims, including the Palestinians, the Dome of the Rock and the al-Aksa Mosque are among the holiest sites.

Israel officially controls Jerusalem but has promised to protect the holy sites and allow all religions to worship there. For Palestinian Muslims, though, the opening of the archaeological tunnel, near their holy places, seemed to violate this promise. It could not be tolerated.

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