The Week of July 13

"The past is never dead. It's not even past" – William Faulkner

The Conquest of Jerusalem in the First Crusade (July 15, 1099)

On July 15, 1099, after a fierce siege, the Crusaders breached Jerusalem and conquered it from Fatimid rule. This conquest was accompanied by a widespread massacre of the city's Muslim and Jewish inhabitants and marked the establishment of the Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem.

Thought: Religious wars have characterized what was perceived as "the Holy Land" – Terra Sancta – for thousands of years of history. Each time, a different entity felt it had to liberate the Holy Land from those who were desecrating it. Has Zionism replaced religious wars with a war of nationalism? Or is nationalism, in fact, the new religion in the world, and Zionism is essentially a religious war?

Further Reading: The Siege and Conquest of Jerusalem by the Crusaders in 1099 - Wikipedia

Image: The Siege of Jerusalem in 1099 by the Crusaders, a painting from 1847

The Battle of Acre (Egyptian-Ottoman War) (July 13, 1832)

The Battle of Acre was part of the Egyptian-Ottoman War, during which Ibrahim Pasha's forces from Egypt besieged and conquered Acre from the Ottoman Empire. The conquest of Acre symbolized the expansion of Egyptian control in the Land of Israel and Syria. Egyptian rule in the Land of Israel lasted for about ten years, from 1831 to early 1841. The general weakness of the Ottoman Empire, which was dubbed "the Sick Man of Europe," was also evident in its inability to deal with Muhammad Ali alone. The Ottoman Empire regained control of the area in 1840, with the assistance of European powers: primarily Britain, and also Austria, Prussia, and Russia, who forced the Egyptians to withdraw. This intervention compelled the declining Ottoman Empire to implement revolutionary changes, known as the "Tanzimat," aimed at modernizing and centralizing the administration, army, economy, and legal systems, as well as equalizing rights among all the Empire's subjects, including non-Muslims.

Thought: The 19th century is key to understanding today's Middle Eastern (and global) reality. With the discoveries and technological advancements that led to the transformation of the world as it was known until then – the telegraph, the railway, steamships, electricity – the great powers of that era began to show interest in the Holy Land. This interest stemmed from its dramatic strategic location for the passage and transport of goods, oil, and more, as well as its religious, historical, and archaeological significance, which was part of their own identity. Evidence of this can be seen in the massive presence of these powers in Jerusalem and the wider region even today: "The Russian Compound," pilgrim hostels, hospitals, consulates, state post offices, and more. The shifts in regional powers in the past continue to echo in the struggles for control and influence in the Middle East to this day.

Further Reading: The 19th Century - Wikipedia

Image: Map of the world in 1897, the British Empire marked in red

The Exodus Affair – The "Exodus 1947" Immigrant Ship Arrives off the Coast of Palestine (July 18, 1947)

On July 18, 1947, the immigrant ship "Exodus 1947," carrying 4,515 Holocaust survivors, arrived off the coast of Palestine after being intercepted by the British. The struggle aboard the ship and the return of the immigrants to Europe sparked a global outcry and greatly influenced international public opinion regarding the struggle for the establishment of the State of Israel.

Thought: Humanitarian and political struggles over the right of refugees to find refuge continue to raise moral and social dilemmas. One of the significant differences between the Jewish refugees who sought to reach the shores of Israel then and any other refugee situation in the world is that the Jewish refugees then sought to reach what they considered their land and their country, and this aspiration was denied to them by a foreign power that controlled the area (the British).

Further Reading: SS Exodus - Wikipedia

Image: The ship Exodus in Haifa port

Apollo-Soyuz Project – The 1st International Cooperation in Space (July 17, 1975)

On July 17, 1975, the American Apollo spacecraft and the Soviet Soyuz spacecraft docked in space. This joint project, which occurred in the midst of the Cold War, symbolized a hope for international cooperation. The venture was the first joint space program between the United States and the Soviet Union. The program involved the launch of two spacecraft, an American Apollo spacecraft and a Soviet Soyuz spacecraft, both launched on July 15, 1975 – Apollo from Kennedy Space Center in Florida and Soyuz from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan – which met and docked in space. While in space, the two spacecraft and their crews conducted joint experiments, and the crews exchanged gifts and dined together.

Thought: Are we more optimistic or pessimistic today about the possibility of cooperation for the benefit of humanity between the great powers?

Further Reading: Apollo-Soyuz - Wikipedia

Image: From left to right: Slayton, Stafford, Brand, Leonov, and Kubasov

Opening of the Moscow Olympics and the Western Boycott (July 19, 1980)

On July 19, 1980, the 22nd Olympic Games opened in Moscow, the capital of the Soviet Union. These Olympics are primarily remembered for the widespread boycott imposed by Western countries, led by the US, in protest of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.

Thought: What is the difference between the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan then, and, for example, the US invasion of Iraq in 2003? Is it all a matter of position and interests? Is everything cynical in international relations, or are there also ideals, vision, and truth within the chaotic global system?

Further Reading: 1980 Summer Olympics - Wikipedia

Image: Countries boycotting the 1980 Games are shaded blue

New International Film Festival Opens in Jerusalem (July 17, 2025)

The Jerusalem Film Festival (or commonly known as the Jerusalem Festival) is an international film festival held annually in Jerusalem. The festival was founded in July 1984 and has since become a central event in Israel for filmmakers and enthusiasts. Every summer, over ten days, the festival screens more than 200 films from about 60 countries, alongside a variety of events, professional workshops, and meetings with renowned creators. (Content source: Wikipedia)

Thought: Can artistic creation and cultural events truly serve as bridges for mutual understanding, as in an idealistic thought? Or do they rather serve as a monologue for demonstrating a narrative and creating polarization?

Further Reading: Information about the festival, films, and ticket purchases - Festival Website