Travel Reference
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the fundamentalists in each. Perhaps there are “different strokes for different folks”
fundamentalists, but it seems to me that, in a nutshell, a fundamentalist (Christian,
Jew, or Muslim) believes, “I am correct in my understanding of God, and you are
wrong”…and then proceeds to intrude into the lives of people who see their relation
with God differently. And that's reason enough to be thankful we live in a nation
that is vigilant about protecting the separation of church and state.
The Muslim Quarter, with over half of the Old City's population, is mostly Arab. But
wandering the Muslim Quarter, I noticed several houses fortified and festooned with Is-
raeli flags. These are homes of ultra-Zionist families determined to stake out this bit of
the Old City for their Jewish community. Considering the rich historic heritage of each of
these communities, it's understandable that both vie for this sacred real estate.
Deep in the Muslim Quarter, a few houses boldly fly Israeli flags.
This struggle over control of Jerusalem is a huge political challenge. While complete
Muslim control of Jerusalem is unrealistic, many Arabs envision an independent Palestini-
an state with this part of Jerusalem—East Jerusalem—as their capital. It's a contentious
issue, and Israel seems determined to keep Jerusalem whole and under its control.
And yet, exploring Jerusalem's Old City—with its tight quarters and religious pas-
sions—I was impressed by the diversity, the feeling of community, and how things
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