The thesis on one side of A4

In defence of the idea of a tri city area in the Levant.The tri city area is a concept I believe rooted in the best ideals of the Nicenean creeds branch of the monotheistic faith of Christianity and is tempered by the facts on the ground of Israel and Palestine both laying claim to Jerusalem by granting it to them both and also not to both at the same time. Thus like the baby with two mothers before King Solomon Jerusalem can be saved from the sword of sectarianism or a terrorist inspired nuke attack rendering it un-visit able to all.What territory would it encompass?Ramallah (Palestinian Executive and Assembly HQ)Jerusalem East (Dome of the Rock and Church of the sepulchre)Jerusalem West (Current home of Israel’s government and the Western / Wailing Wall)Bethlehem (Historic Orthodox Jewish community, Church of the Nativity and Palestinian cultural centre)AlsoSpace for a UN second city structure for the Security Council and International Criminal Court.Why this?To ensure that Israel and Palestine become joint share / stake holders for a peaceful international territory where both can coexist and go about their day to day lives with minimal conflict resulting from a UN presence. If the UN and International Criminal Court moved to the territory then disputed settlement areas could become diplomat housing and the rental income could go towards the re-housing of settlers from the West Bank within Israel’s agreed borders as part of the peace agreement without the need for sectarian based policing (where peace walls are put through Jerusalem instead of around them) as occurred in Belfast during the troubles.Why isn’t this the West playing crusader of old?Because its involvement is only in accordance with international law and the legal systems of the two states involved. This does not discount the honour of serving in the Holy Land to many Christians merely contextualises it. There will be no conversion at the point of the sword or pogroms as has occurred historically. Instead there would be just a willingness to defend Israel and Palestine from the worst instincts of the fringe elements of each other and states that have or still sponsor terrorists, despite any new initiative by the Obama administration.Is this Augustinian?Yes its just, proportionate, exhausts all other means of solving the dispute, is aware of the facts on the ground and stands a reasonable chance of success. Thus its rooted in that tradition of the church.