Stuart Gathman
2010-06-12 18:14:07
As the spiritual descendants of Abraham, Christians expect to be able to visit the Holy Land. (No real justification for this. Demanding bunch.) When Suleiman captured Jerusalem, he allowed Christian pilgrims without much hassle (and was an exemplary ruler all around), and the crusades took a break. Later caliphs were not so tolerant. The Christian Holy sites are the Jewish ones plus some new testament additions – there is no conflict with Jews over Holy sites. Islam builds over (temple mount) and desecrates (Eastern gate) Jewish and Christian sites. (Although their attempt at desecration of the Eastern gate is humorously ignorant of Christianity.)
