European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 13, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Religious strife divides Jerusalem sold City in the old City the moslem dome of the Rock rises Over the Western Wall the sacred site for jews. A a a by Daniel Williams los Angeles times in thl Middle of to jewish Quarter of Jerusalem s old City stand the ruins of a 12th-Century Church named for St Mary of the German knights when the ruins were uncovered in the Early 1970s, a sign was posted identifying the Structure As a Church but the sign was defaced and the authorities then classified the place As merely an archaeological Garden now it is identified As St Mary s German hospice though there has been an Effort to scratch out those words in ins Book Jerusalem City of mirrors Amos Elon attributes the conflict to the religious atmosphere of the Quarter which is occupied largely by strictly orthodox jewish residents but it might also be seen As part of a problem Bede Iling the old City and its fragile mosaic of cultures the diverse National and religious groupings of the old City cling jealously and often violently to their exclusive sectors. Outsiders even those who live Only a Doorstep away enter at their own risk. The most recent example is the conflict Over the takeover by jewish nationalists of the old hospice of Saint John in the Christian Quarter. The incident has developed into a dispute involving the Law ideology and tradition the headlines Are today a but the dilemma is perhaps As old As the walled City itself. In the last decades of the ottoman Empire partition of the 200 acre old City was maintained by International Accord. For three decades starting in 1917, the British maintained the system and continued the ottoman practice of dealing with ethnic and religious groups through their patriarchal leaders. After israeli Independence in 1948, Jordan ruled Over the Eastern half of Jerusalem from 1948 to 1967. Jordan continued the practice although jews complained that the Western Wall the last remnant of their ancient Temple Complex was often desecrated by moslem who drove cattle into the area and otherwise harassed worshippers israeli forces captured Jerusalem in the Arab israeli War of 1967. Israel and especially Jerusalem under mayor Teddy Kollek promised to support the status quo and to keep open Access to All holy places. But As shown by the conflict Over the hospice of St. John there Are forces that threaten to destroy the informal Accord that has kept the peace and preserved sectoral integrity. Quot it s not the time to encourage mixed neighbourhoods Aharon Sarig a lawyer and longtime adviser to the mayor said the other Day. Quot Jerusalem was almost always divided into different quarters. This is the idea of How to run the  Sarig admits that there is no formal basis in Law for continuing the status quo among the old City communities a moslem jewish Christian and armenian. Technically Quot he said Quot everything is run on the basis of Equality. If someone wants to buy property anywhere they have the right to do that. In practice the passions and traditions of the communities must be taken into account. This is not the United states where the Ideal at least is for everyone to  a most of the time the tension Between Law and tradition in the old City has been kept under control. Few members of any religious group a 50,000 moslem 7,000 christians and armenians 4,000 jews a Are tempted to move onto someone else s turf. But clashing ideologies have entered the equation. At St. John s hospice which is owned by the greek orthodox Church the nationalist jewish seminarians who have taken Over the building see themselves As classical zionists and zionism mandated a return of All jews to Zion. This is the fulfilment of the desire of every jew Quot a spokesman for the occupiers of the hospice told reporters. Quot this is a jewish cause a test  he identified himself Only As Yahuda. There Are signs that the hospice takeover will not be the last land Battle in the old City. The housing ministry headed by David Levy a proponent of expansion in the occupied West Bank and Gaza strip has been canvassing the armenian Quarter looking for Page 16my favorite place in Europe do you have a favorite place in Europe a a City country Region Street River a place that you vividly remember that you d love to revisit we d like to hear about it. Tell us in 200 words or less about your favorite spot in Europe and what makes it so special for you. The writer of the Best essay will win $200 a for a return trip to that favorite place or a visit to someplace new. The second place Winner will receive $100 the third place Winner a gift certificate for $50 Worth of travel guidebooks from a stars and stripes Bookstore. All taxes on contest prizes Are the responsibility of the Winner the Best essays will be printed in stripes Magazine on june 1, All entries must be received no later than May 20. Essays longer than 200 words will not be considered for prizes nor will essays about hotels or restaurants or places outside Europe anyone who holds a . Military id card fp8 led ssh Pat he Exchange and use our or 9 May ener except employees of the stars and stripes and their families. Send your essay to stars and stripes Quot my favorite place Quot Apo 09211 or to the International address stars and stripes Quot my favorite place Postrach 111437 d-6100 Darmstadt 11 West Germany. Sunday May 13,1990 houses to buy. The government has set aside at least $7.5 million for further purchases in the old City. The greek Church is fighting the jewish group on grounds of ownership As Well As tradition. Church officials say the lease bought by the israelis from a middleman is illegal. Moreover there is a Strong current of nationalism among greek Church supporters in the palestinian Community. Arab palestinians regard the Effort to end the status quo in Jerusalem As part of an israeli Campaign to deprive arabs of their land. And not a few observers find that there is Little new in this that land disputes tinged with religious fire Are not exceptional. The oldest of the status quo disputes involves the Temple mount which moslem Call the Haram Al Sharif or Noble enclosure. Today the dome of the Rock stands on the site covering the spot from which Mohammed is said to have ascended to heaven. For the jews it is the Home of their ancient Temple and holy of holies the mystical Center of jewish worship. Over the centuries almost every conqueror of Jerusalem has established a shrine to his particular deity on the mount usually after destroying what was there. An altar to a canaanite god is believed to have stood there before the jews arrived. Greeks put up a Temple to zeus the romans a Temple to Jupiter. Crusaders erected a Church moslem the Golden dome mosque. After Israel wrested Jerusalem from Jordan in the 1967 War a Campaign was undertaken by nationalists to at least restore jewish worship on the site but it never succeeded. Quot the israeli government prevents jews from praying on the Temple mount so As not to upset the arabs Quot Sarig the municipal adviser said the clamor to retake the mount goes on. One nationalist religious organization tried to Lay a Cornerstone last year but was turned Back by policemen. On passover the same group attempted to carry on a Harvest ritual atop the mount but again was frustrated by the police. The stars and stripes