Commentary: Arab myth is still accepted by many as Jerusalem’s historic “truth." Abbas claims he wants peace but encourages terrorism. Why should Israel accept two states and a split Jerusalem when we hear only “...death to Israel…”. Secretary of State Kerry ignores that settlement of Israeli-Palestinian issues is lower priority than, e.g, Daesh and Iran; he talks….
Since its founding over 3,000 years ago Jerusalem was never divided until Jordan captured and closed off the old city to jews after 1948: It expelled jewish residents, destroyed most Jewish history and archeology and severely restricted Christians. Jerusalem was reunited in 1967 and reopened to all. A divided city lasted not quite 2/3 of one percent of the city’s history. There has been a continuous Jewish presence in Jerusalem since the Roman expulsion - and its history since - with a majority for most of the last 200 years.
Never has there been a Palestinian “state” - until Arafat’s 1988 declaration. After the 689 CE Muslim conquest, the land was a third-rate province of various caliphates and for 500 years an Ottoman backwater. Arab attacks on jews seriously began in 1935. The PA and Hamas' charter/covenant still call for Israel’s destruction - not coexistence.
Jerusalem's redivision will not bring any long term peace nor solve the current stand-off. A divided Jerusalem - within a “Judenrein” Palestinian state (Abbas) - solves nothing. If redivided, Jewish holy places in Jerusalem and the west bank all face future destruction. Already begun, e.g. a destroyed Rachel’s tomb and arson at Joseph’s, and now a UN push to declare the western wall an "Arab holy site.” Not funny. The Christian sites and churches? Only a matter of time.
"I look at Jerusalem as being a beacon for the three monotheistic religions." (Abdallah II of Jordan) Really?