Mount Scopus

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The Hebrew University campus and tower on Mount Scopus from the south

Mount Scopus (Hebrew הַר הַצּוֹפִים (Har HaTzofim), Arabic جبل المشارف

Ǧabal al-Mašārif, جبل المشهد

Ǧabal al-Mašhad, جبل الصوانة) is a mountain [citation needed](elevation: 834 meters above sea level) in northeast Jerusalem, Israel. Overlooking Jerusalem, Mount Scopus has been strategically important for the defense of the city since antiquity. The Roman Legion camped there in 70 CE, and the Crusaders in 1099. In the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, parts of Mount Scopus became an Israeli exclave within Jordanian territory until the Six-Day War in 1967. Today, Mount Scopus lies within the municipal boundaries of the city of Jerusalem.

Jordan-Israel armistice agreement

After the ceasefire agreement of November 30, 1948, which established the division of East and West Jerusalem, Israel was alloted control of the western part of the city while Jordan controlled the east. Several demilitarized "no man's land" zones were established along the border, one of them Mount Scopus.[1]

Article VIII of the armistice agreement signed by Moshe Dayan on behalf of the Government of Israel and Jordan in April 1949,[2] called for ways to seek the resumption of "the normal functioning of the cultural and humanitarian institutions on Mount Scopus and free access thereto; free access to the Holy Places and cultural institutions and use of the cemetery on the Mount of Olives; resumption of operation of the Latrun pumping station; provision of electricity for the Old City; and resumption of operation of the railroad to Jerusalem."[1]

Local Area Commanders agreements

The Mount Scopus Agreement signed on July 7, 1948 regulated the demilitarised zone around Mount Scopus and authorized the Chief of Staff of the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization and his representative to settle disputes between the Israelis and Jordanians. The Jewish-owned property was surrounded by a fence, but clashes erupted when Palestinian Arabs living on the other side of the fence sought to cultivate land, pick olives and carry out repairs on homes close to the fence. The Arabs were requested not to work closer than fifty metres from the fence unless prior permission was granted by the Israeli police.[3]There were two versions of the The demilitarization agreement one was initialled by Franklyn M. Begley, a UN official; the local Jordanian commander and the Israeli local commander. The other was not initialled by the Israeli local commander. The two versions was the cause many instances within the Mount Scopus area.[3] Particularly on a disputed patrol route of the Israeli police past Palestinian Arab property.

Ceasefire violations

On July 24, 1956 in the disputed armistice line of Jerusalem’s Mount Scopus demilitarized zone, Palestinian Arabs re-occupied a house close to Jewish property on Mount Scopus. The house was fired on by Israeli police stationed at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, leading to a protracted fire-fight with Jordanian Legion troops. The UN observers arranged for a ceasefire. However, while attempting to reach the house in question to negotiate with the Jordanians, the UN observers were severely wounded by an anti-personnel mine.[4]

On May 26, 1958, Lieutenant-Colonel Flint was killed by a sniper bullet while trying to evacuate Israeli police officers on a disputed patrol route killed and wounded by Jordanian fire. Flint was within 40-50 meters of the body of one of the Israelis, carrying a white flag, when he was hit by a bullet and died on the spot.[3]

Landmarks

Hebrew University of Jerusalem

File:Founding of the Hebrew Universiry.jpg
Hebrew University inauguration ceremony, 1917

Construction of the Mount Scopus campus of the Hebrew University began in 1918 on land purchased from the Gray Hill estate. The dedication ceremony was held in 1925 in the presence of many dignitaries. [5] By 1947, it was a solid research and teaching institution with humanities, science, medicine, education and agriculture departments (in Rehovot), a national library, a university press and an adult education center. The university had a student population of over 1,000 and 200 faculty members. [6]

Botanical Garden

The Hebrew University Botanical Garden on Mount Scopus was founded by botanist Alexander Aig in 1931. This garden contains one of the largest collections of Israeli uncultivated plants. This was the first home of Jerusalem's Biblical Zoo.[7] A cave in the garden has been identified as the Tomb of Nicanor of Alexandria, who donated one of the gates of Herod's Temple. [8]

Hadassah Hospital

In 1939, the Hadassah Women's Organization opened a teaching hospital on Mount Scopus [9]in a building designed by architect Erich Mendelsohn. In 1948, when the Jordanians occupied East Jerusalem and blockaded the road to Mount Scopus, the hospital could no longer function.[9] In 1960, after running clinics in various locations, the organization opened a medical center on the other side of the city, in Jerusalem's Ein Karem neighborhood.[9] On April 13, 1948, a civilian convoy bringing medical supplies and personnel to Hadassah Hospital on Mount Scopus was attacked by Arab forces. 78 Jews, mainly doctors and nurses, were killed in the ambush. [10]

Brigham Young University Jerusalem Center

The construction of the Brigham Young University Jerusalem Center, owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Mount Scopus initially sparked controversy due to concerns that the Mormons would engage in missionary activities. After pledging not to proselytize in Israel, work on the building was allowed to proceed. The Mormon University, as it is commonly known, commands a panoramic view of Jerusalem and has won awards for its stunning architecture. [11]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Mideast Web. org.
  2. ^ UN Doc S/1302/Rev.1 of 3 April 1949 Hashemite Jordanian Kingdom Israel Armistice Agreement
  3. ^ a b c UN Doc Report of the Firing Incident of 26 May 1958 on Mount Scopus UN Doc S/4030 17 June 1958, para 80
  4. ^ Watching, Writing, and Waiting: Canadian Participation in Observer Peacekeeping Missions, 1948-1956
  5. ^ The Hebrew University of Jerusalem - History
  6. ^ The Hebrew University of Jerusalem - History
  7. ^ http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3349288,00.html
  8. ^ https://www.haaretz.co.il/hasen/pages/ShArtStEngPE.jhtml?itemNo=984035&contrassID=2&subContrassID=14&title='Man%20bites%20history%20'&dyn_server=172.20.5.5
  9. ^ a b c NY Times
  10. ^ Hadassah Convoy Massacre
  11. ^ Jerusalem - Beyond the Old City Walls

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mount Scopus.

31°47′33″N 35°14′39″E / 31.79250°N 35.24417°E / 31.79250; 35.24417

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