Peace be unto you,
My purpose of drafting this letter and submitting this Peace Proposal is to present an accommodating solution to the continuing conflict in the Middle East; as I see it, there will be no true peace in the world until the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is resolved. This is one of the most important issues of our time and the first step to a world that can accept long-lasting peace.
I am not a scholar or a philosopher, I do not belong to a particular religious faith, nor do I represent a particular political party in my beliefs; what I am is just one human being that respects the rights of all human beings to live in peace and to prosper. I have no enemies and I court no friends. There is not an agenda to my Proposal, merely a suggestion for a path to peace. Something must be done, or we, as the human race, will surely face further wars and conflict as it pertains to these issues.
Beginning with the issue of Jerusalem, archaeology indicates that the city was first inhabited during the 4th millenium BC, near the only perennial stream there, the Gihon. The first evidence of an urban settlement, in the shape of fortification walls, dates from the 18th century BC, roughly corresponding to the Middle Bronze Age. It is also at this time, that Jerusalem is mentioned in the Egyptian “execration” texts when the Egyptians ruled Canaan.
During its vast history, Jerusalem has been destroyed twice, besieged 23 times, attacked 52 times, and captured and recaptured 44 times. Jerusalem is also a holy city to the three major Abrahamic religions—Christianity, Islam and Judaism. Despite having an area of only 0.9 square kilometres (0.35 sq mi), the city is home to many sites of tremendous religious importance, including the Temple Mount, the Dome of the Rock and al-Aqsa Mosque, and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
Based on these facts, no single faith or people can claim the right to total control of the city; and as we know, it is imperative that Jerusalem be the capital to both Israel and Palestine. So, I purpose a new country called the Kingdom of Jerusalem. This is also In agreement with the recommendations of the UN General Assembly, as it pertains to the city of Jerusalem, in which Jerusalem would be placed under a special international regime, a corpus separatum; further, this recommendation is in accordance with United Nations General Assembly Resolution 194, published on December 11, 1948.
The new Kingdom of Jerusalem will consist of the territory now known as the West Bank, including all of eastern Jerusalem. The Kingdom of Jerusalem agrees to accept all religions, equally, including, but not limited to, Christianity, Islam and Judaism; and does not have any ties to the former latin Kingdom of Jerusalem, which lasted nearly two hundred years, from 1099 until 1291. By beginning a new country, the Kingdom of Jerusalem, there is real possibility for peace in this holiest of cities.
In this document, I also purpose the creation of a new Palestinian state, an independent country that reserves all rights afforded other free countries. Palestine will consist of the Gaza Strip and land in the Sinai; and an open (Palestinian) thorough way from the Gaza Strip to Jerusalem, a possible capital of Palestine. The Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip can trace their ancestry back to the Philistines, which derives from the attested Illyrian locality Palaeste, whose inhabitants would have been called Palaestīnī; the Palestinian people first appeared in the southern coastal area of Canaan (Gaza) at the beginning of the Iron Age (circa 1175 BC). This is their land and should be governed entirely by the Palestinian people.
I also propose the building of the Third Temple on the Temple Mount. The Kingdom of Jerusalem, Israel and Palestine will agree to this building, as architecturally described in the Book of Ezekiel. The Third Temple will be built at least 100 yards north of the Dome of the Rock; and it is explicitly agreed by all parties, that no harm will be done to the Dome of the Rock, the Dome of Ascension, the Dome of the Chain, or to the Al-Aqsa Mosque. The Dome of the Tablets or Dome of the Spirits stands over the original site of the Holy of Holies in Solomon’s temple, exactly straight opposite of the Eastern Gate (the now sealed Golden Gate). An acceptable easement, with a clearance of 150 feet, will exist between the Dome of the Rock and the Third Temple.
Lastly, in my proposal, I objectively try to resolve some of the ongoing issues that have continued to derive conflicts; such as, the Golan Heights, the Blue Line, the islands of the Strait of Tiran and activities that are considered to be terrorism.
In my proposal, all the parties to the Peace Agreement must compromise to some extent, but all parties benefit, as well. Compromise has always been at the heart of true peace and I hope by presenting these ideas, there will be a new transformation and all countries will elevate their views in this matter. Surely, we all can live on this planet peacefully.
Thank you for your time and consideration. May God bless all the people of the Middle East.
Michael Ruark 