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In 1950, The United Nations proposed that the city of Jerusalem become Internationalized – the issue was to be taken up during the next session of the governing body and a vote was to take place.
The move touched off a firestorm of controversy. “The Jews of Jerusalem take the position that the city cannot be internationalized, not in a spirit of defiance of the United Nations, but in the pursuit of the elementary right of self-determination, Eli Eliashar, member of the Israel parliament, declared.
The plan was bitterly opposed by both Israel and Hashemite Jordan. The internationalized territory would extend as far south as Bethlehem, as far east as Abu Dis, west to Ein Karim, and north to Shu’Fat. The U. N. had no power to enforce internationalization and Council President Roger Garreau of France was instructed to seek the “full cooperation” of Israel and Jordan, who occupy the divided Holy City. The statute provided for a U. N. governor and a supreme court to administer Jerusalem and surrounding territory. With the withdrawal of the British from Palestine in 1948 the Christian Holy Places (and the problem today primarily concerns only the Christian Holy Places) were left without special protection. Palestine was divided between Muslims and Jews for neither of whom the Christian communities — and particularly the Catholics — had any great love. Most of the Christian Holy Places (in the Old City of Jerusalem in Bethlehem and on the Jordan) fell under Muslim rule. A few in Ein Karem on Mount Carmel in Nazareth and round the Sea of Galilee fell under Jewish rule The most sacred the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the Church of the Nativity were within the Arab-held sector of Greater Jerusalem When the British occupied Palestine in 1917 and 1918 they took over the Ottoman duty of supervising the Holy Places.
Israel claimed Jerusalem as the ” eternal capital ” of the Jewish nation. Jordan’s King Abdullah had declared that the Arab section of Jerusalem was part of his kingdom..
In this episode of The American Forum, several representatives of both Jewish and Arab interests engaged in a furious debate over the proposal, it’s implications and how such a move would impact the future of the Middle East in general.
Here is that episode, as broadcast on January 1, 1950 over the NBC Radio Network.
