Reply #11: Because

[sabbat hunter]

when it was not in Israeli hands, Jews were not allowed in to it and in fact prior to 1967 there was an attempt to wipe out any claim that jews might have to it by building houses/businesses at the foot of the western wall. Once Israel gained control of it, all religions were allowed back in, as it should be. Control of the holy sites is controlled by the various religions but Israel has political control to make sure that it stays an open city.


I see no signs that a nanoscent Palestinian government would have the ability or desire to protect the rights of all religions to go in to the old city.

Finally under no partition plan was the old city supposed to be in Palestinian hands. It was supposed to be an international city. However, I do not trust the UN to be given control of it (ie international city status) as they did little if anything to protect that status when Jordan invaded and took it over back in 1947.