Palestine

Photo by F. S. Harris. The Jordan Rivet at the tradi- tional place of Christ's baptism. It is near here that the children of Israel are supposed tv have crossed the Jordan after their many years of wandering in the wilderness. ANYONE who has a belief in the Bible, or who has any connection with the great religions centering in Pales- tine, has more than a passing in- terest in the events that are trans- piring in that country. Ever since the very dawn of history, Palestine has been a land of controversy. -It has been a holy land to many peoples, and since these various peoples have not always been unanimous in their beliefs, contention has arisen regarding the occupation of the land. DALESTINE is so situated that, * independent of its being a cen- ter from which great truths have emanated, it would have witnessed many important incidents. It is located on the highway between the great nations of the ancient world at one end of what is some- times called the "fertile crescent." With the desert of Arabia at the south and east and the Mediter- ranean Sea at the west, Palestine Critical Days In Palestine By DR. FRANKLIN S. HARRIS President of RriQham YounQ University is in reality a bridge with Egypt on the one side and Mesopotamia and Europe on the other. Egypt was the 'granary of the ancient world and the center of one of the oldest civilizations, and as such it was the point of attack of the rulers of the most ancient kingdoms, as well as of such gen- erals as Alexander the Great and Napoleon. With all of these con- quests, Palestine has furnished the bridge of entry into Egypt. TN ADDITION to being_ an in- * nocent bystander which has been trampled on by passing armies, Palestine has had some major conflicts of its own. When Abraham first came to the land, all was not smooth sailing; then when the children of Israel came back from Egypt, they had to enter into constant warfare with those who were occupying the land. Fi- nally, under King David, the land became somewhat unified as an Israelitish kingdom, but it was not to retain its unity for any great length of time. Dissensions arose, and Israel was carried captive into the East. Many unhappy days were seen in this land, which had come to be known as the home of Israel, even though most of the Israelites were scattered afar. Then came Jesus of Nazareth, from whose teachings grew Chris- tianity. Since Christ had his min- istry in Palestine and gave his teachings there, it became the holy land of all Christians, who felt that they should have possession of it and should guard its sacred places. This deep-seated feeling was transferred into action during the many crusades, when attempts were made to wrest the Holy Land from the "infidels." A NUMBER of centuries after the Christian era, Mohammed to the south of Palestine estab- lished his cult which also considers that Palestine is a holy land for its people. Mohammedans are be- lievers in Abraham, Jacob, and their successors, and consider them- selves to be the true defenders of the places made sacred by those early leaders in Israel. This means that there are three ■ ■frryfc Photo by F. S. Harris. A typical Jew in Jerusalem, which contains many more Arabs than Jews.

The Improvement Era for November, 1930 23 iw ■mmmm>m Street scene in Jerusalem just few straight streets within the walls. distinct groups — the adherents of Judaism, Christianity, and Mo- hammedanism, each with its own beliefs but each considering itself to have the responsibility for de- fending Palestine as a holy land. Out of this conflict arises the pres- ent rather delicate and very com- plex political situation which exists in Palestine. "COR many centuries while Pales- tine was under the domination of Turkey, the Mohammedans had undisputed control, although they permitted Jewish and Christian activity there to a limited extent. As a matter of fact, the Moham- medans had frequently to act as referees in bitter disputes between various factions of Christian churches. These dissensions con- tinue even now that the land is in a sense out of Mohammedan control. Photo by F. S. Harris, inside the Jaffa gate. There are very Not long ago in Bethlehem I witnessed a very distressing con- tention between two branches of the Catholic church at the Church of the Nativity, which covers the spot where Christ is supposed to have been born. But this type of disagreemenl is secondary to the great conten- tion which at present is the centei of interest for all who are watch- ing events in Palestine. After the capture of Jerusalem by General Allenby during the World War, Lord Balfour issued a proclamation setting Palestine aside as a home for the gathering of the Jews, in line with the Zionist movement which has been important for sev- eral decades. This immediately raised the ire of the Arabian people who comprise most of the popula- tion of Palestine. They said that the Arabs had occupied Palestine much longer than the Jews and that the land had been theirs for many centuries and they did not propose to give it up. SKSBB/KBSSmtBmmsmmmSmsm Photo by F. S. Harris. Field in outskirts of Nazareth. When Jesus was a hoy he probably passed this way many times. Photo by F. S. Harris. Ship of the desert passing through the Jaffa gate, Jerusalem. This gate was very much enlarged a few years ago. TINDER the wise administration *-' of the British protectorate un- til the summer of 1929, peace has been maintained in spite of the rather tense attitude. Then there was an open breach, and a num- ber of people on both sides were killed. On the one hand the Jewish people demand that the British government live up to the procla- mation of Lord Balfour, and on the other, the Arabs demand their rights in a land they have occupied so many centuries. No one seems to want to take the blame for the recent uprising, which is not whol- ly settled even at the present time. Each side blames the other for too much aggression. Those who have been the most ardent Zionists

24 The Improvement Era for November, 1930 have hoped that Palestine could become an almost exclusively Jew- ish state and eventually be the home of a large proportion of the Jewish people of the world. Any- one who is familiar with the phys- ical situation there is aware that this can never be Achieved and that at most Palestine can become the spiritual center for the people and most of them will have to live some place else. But the Arabs do not want to concede even this much, because they do not want to be dominated politically by the Jews. In the meantime, the vari- ous Christian groups are looking concerned with maintaining it as on in a dazed sort of way, won- dering just what will happen. I BELIEVE that no one at the a holy land, are anxious to have the problem solved without serious conflict. After having been pretty thor- present time is wise enough to oughly over Palestine and having predict just what the result of this conflict will be. All we can say is that in these days the situation in Palestine is critical and that Britain will have to use all her experience in diplomacy to work out the situation without a major controversy arising. Those of us who have a real interest in that land, and in the peoples who are watched the events there rather carefully during recent years, I be- lieve that the situation will be adjusted, but, certainly no one group will have exclusive control of the land. The other groups are so much wedded to it that they will not completely relinquish their rights without a most san- guinary conflict. «>o<§|S«ioi»- -< Horsebackin' Over Mt. Nebo (Continued from page 11) wind. Before we went to bed I mals, with the exception of the supposed that our tiny valley there mule, to enjoy the day. The mule on the side of Nebo had been made was fitted out with a pack saddle by a glacier or by melting snow and rope stirrups for Ralph; I drifts; after that night, I decided I really believe he had the best it might have been gouged out by mount of the cavalcade. The the teeth of the wind. group made an impressive picture Next morning we had a break- as they went single file along the fast of bacon and eggs and a bev- protruding ribs of the world. erage made by some Californian Just before making the last short who was seeking a new method of climb to the summit, we paused to camouflaging his figs. It may be enjoy the view while Chris point- a healthful drink, but on a cold ed out objects of interest in various mountainside in the early morning directions. We were on a plateau it lacks in aroma and romance, large enough, we decided, to serve Chris was hungry. He had been as a landing field. In my day I chasing horses most of the night expect, to see airplanes, like great barefooted over some bushes to white-winged Rocs, bear mountain which he applied a scientific name lovers up to that plateau whence never seen _ in books of botany, they can make the summit in It began with stick-um-i and end- twelve minutes, and whence they ed with a word that has nearly have a splendid view of the triple lost its meaning and has lost its peaks of Mt. Nebo, standing among the boiled shirt What became of the roosters? descendants of the Pioneers. After five or six hours on the sum- mits of Nebo enjoying the view A FTER a leisurely breakfast, we and battling the savage wind, des- 4 * mounted and went on up the pite our robust breakfasts we de- mountain leaving our pack ani- cided we needed more sustenance. We returned to camp and there above the luscious valleys where live roosters had never been before, they were sacrificed to the gods of hunger, and those gods, thanks to Chic's excellent cooking, were ap- peased. CINBAD had lost a shoe. It was -^ the old story — "For want of a nail the shoe was lost; for want of a shoe — ". but why go on? Before we had reached the sheep camp on our return, he was lame; by the time we reached the hog back where we stopped to enjoy a glimpse of a herd of elk, he was sorrowful and down-hearted. Chic, seeing Sinbad's condition, suggested that we exchange horses. We reached the Ranger Station by 5 o'clock and were soon back in the cars again. Chris, true to his type, declared that his mule could handle me up Nebo and an- other mountain like it. The experiment is yet to be worked out. «- -<K4<8i§XH- Words of President Lorenzo Snow (Continued from page 9) Brigham City, the people generally this idea. We are not going to- prepared for these things that have thought it was nonsense, perfectly morrow, nor next day, this week been taught us during this con- ference, and make ourselves wor- thy, and we will receive everything that I have read to you in this section." — General Conference, April 10, 1898. useless, to plant peach trees, apple or next week; but we are going, trees, currant bushes and the like, and there are many — hundreds and because we were going to Jackson hundreds within the sound of my County so speedily; and it was voice that will live to go back to with the utmost effort that we Jackson County and build a holy were enabled to disabuse them of temple to the Lord our God. Be