The Wailing Wall, an Icon of Middle East Conflict for Forty Years

Pasadena, CA (PRWeb) January 16, 2007 -- For more than a hundred years, the tiny strip of land between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River has been the subject of intense debate and bitter conflict, with one of the main focal points of the ongoing struggle being a single ancient city, Jerusalem.

This year commemorates the 40th anniversary of the "Six-day War" in Jerusalem, also known as the 1967 Arab-Israeli War, when Israel came into possession of the Western Wall after nineteen years. In a war that was fought between Israel and the Arab states of Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, and Syria, at the war's end, Israel had gained control of the Gaza Strip, the Sinai Peninsula, the West Bank, and the Golan Heights. Since 1967 the Western Wall, also known as the Wailing Wall, has become a national icon for most Israelis and a central issue in the Middle East conflict.

In a fresh analysis, author and Vision.org's publisher David Hulme examines the roles of identity and ideology in the search for a resolution to the final-status issue of Jerusalem in his recent book entitled Identity, Ideology, and The Future of Jerusalem. The study explores the lives of fourteen key Palestinian and Jewish leaders, and is intended to serve as an important resource for scholars, students, or anyone interested in the Arab-Israeli conflict, peace studies, and political psychology.

Since 1967 the Wall has become the location of civil and national ceremonies, concerts, and the swearing in of elite army units. Hulme observes that revering the Wall, the Temple Mount, and historic Jerusalem is an essential aspect of national identity rooted in the history and religious tradition of the Jewish people.

James N. Rosenau at The George Washington University said, "Few cities in world history are the focus of continuing conflict and concern, and perhaps none have been as preoccupying as Jerusalem. It is the site of religious and political strife, ideological and identity tensions--what Hulme refers to as 'one of the world's most perplexing political and humanitarian problems.' While those problems will have to be solved in the political arena, a reading of this book clarifies the potential for resolution. It is a magisterial work, one that will surely serve as a reference for years to come."

In a time when conflict in the Middle East is one of the top news stories in this New Year, this author and publisher offers new insights into the situation. Hulme's Vision.org Foundation will contribute a portion of the proceeds from the sale of Identity, Ideology, and the Future of Jerusalem to intercommunal peace efforts in Israel and Palestine.

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