President Rivlin: Our duty now more than ever to bring peace to Jerusalem
Speech Israel's President Reuven Rivlin gave at a ceremony at the Western Wall , marking 50 years since the Six Day War
We gave our all for Jerusalem because we knew that on Jerusalem we must insist.
We will always insist on Jerusalem.
There never has been, there never be any other reality.
Here, in these stones, beats the heart of the Jewish People.
Jerusalem is the heart of the State of Israel, and the Kotel is the heart of Jerusalem.
On the day of Jerusalem’s liberation, then Defense Minister, Moshe Dayan, wrote a note, and slotted it in between the stones of the Kotel: “May peace be upon Israel.”
Today too, we continue to carry that prayer.
May God give, and bring peace over Israel. “Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all you who love her.”
And now, we are celebrating the 50th anniversary. Any marriage that lasts 50 years needs hard work to keep the love strong.
Yes, Jerusalem is of gold, but is also city of knowledge and education.
Jerusalem is the seat of government, and a city of culture and innovation.
Jerusalem, is diverse.
The city of Jerusalem – that was once a divided city – is the same city where Jews and Arabs, religious and secular people, find the space to live together, to meet and get to know each other; to build a shared Jerusalem, together.
For 50 years, Jerusalem has been ours, but we have not let her rest. Some want to divide her, some want to see her grow, some want to see her shrink.
The city is pulled and pushed, and argued about, here, and all over the world.
As we mark the half a century since the city was reunited, I believe the time has come to bring peace to Jerusalem.
To grow within her an Israeli hope, a hope for Jerusalem: the city which welcomes pilgrims from all communities, from all over the world.
This is our duty now more than ever. To work to develop and preserve our city.
I ask you all, to take from the strength of Jerusalem, from the history of Jerusalem from the beauty of Jerusalem, so that we will know how to build our futures together. It is not enough that the city is united, if its people are still divided.”
- This appeared in a booklet marking the anniversary of the Six Day War, produced by BICOM and the ADL
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