Effects of Fighting in the Middle East Felt in the U.S.

Source: The Courier-Journal

On October 3, 2000, The Courier-Journal (Kentucky) reported on "a few acresof flat, elevated turf in Jerusalem's old city, revered by Jews as thesite of their ancient temple and by Muslims as the scene of a miraculousvisit by the prophet Mohammed." It reported that "Louisville-area Jewsand Muslims alike say they were not surprised that right-wing Israelipolitician Ariel Sharon triggered violence just by showing up there. Fivedays of fighting have followed Sharon's visit last Thursday on the sitethat Muslims call the Noble Sanctuary and Jews the Temple Mount. Locally,both Jews and Muslims yesterday denounced Sharon's move as havingshattered a delicate religious balance and aggravated people's frustrationwith the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. 'It's a very volatile issue,because it takes people to the core of their religious beliefs,' saidRiffat Hassan, a Muslim and professor of religious studies at theUniversity of Louisville. 'When it gets to that point, they are willing todie for their beliefs - and they are dying.' Rabbi Stanley Miles of TempleShalom in Louisville called Sharon's visit 'tragic...it was insensitive,it was wrong,' he said. 'But Mr. Sharon represents one stream of thoughtin Israel and not the majority who want peace.'"