Sacred Space in Israel and Palestine

Marshall J. Breger is Professor at the Catholic University of America.Yitzhak Reiter is Associate Professor at the Department of Political Science of Ashkelon Academic College, Israel.Leonard Hammer lectures in Israel and abroad.

• Introduction Part 1: Designating and Grading Holy Places 1. "How Awesome is this Place": Holy Places in Jewish Law 2. Holy Places and Sacred Spaces: Canonical Issues 3. The Protection of Heritage and Holy Sites in International Law: A Palestinian Perspective 4. From Unknown Saint to State Site: The Jewish Dimension in the Sanctification Process of Tombs in the State of Israel 5. The Renewal of the Pilgrimage to Nabi Musa 6. The Zamzam Well Ritual in Islam and its Jerusalem Connection Part 2: Interpreting Religious Law in Light of Political Needs 7. The Place of Religious Aspirations for Sovreignty over the Temple Mount in Religious-Zionist Rulings 8. The Battle for the Muslim Cemeteries in Israel Part 3: The Role of Religious Leaders in Addressing Issues Pertaining to Holy Sites 9. Nationalising and Denationalising the Sacred: Shrines and Shifting Identities in the Israeli-Occupied Territories 10. Political Holiness: Negotiating Holy Places in Eretz Israel/Palestine, 1937-2003 11. Search for Common Ground: The Importance of Interfaith Cooperation for the Protection of Jerusalem’s Holy Sites 12. Christian Palestinian Communities in Israel: Tensions between Laity, Clergy, and State

"The range of themes explored within the context of politics and law is impressive...This volume provides readers with essential background about some of the crucial issues involved and will especially appeal to graduate students and faculty in interfaith relations, politics, international relations and law."Yousef Meri, Center for the Study of Jewish–Christian–Muslim Relations, Merrimack College,