Saturday July 23, 2022
I've Been Thinking:

Israeli journalist Gil Tamari posted that he had crossed into Islam’s holy city Mecca.  On his post it was possible to watch Tamari as he drove into Mecca proper and crossed under the huge hands holding a Koran at the entrance to the city.    

Mecca, located in Saudi Arabia, is a city for believers only.  It is forbidden for non-believers to enter.

It was just a matter of time before an Israeli, even a respected journalist like Gil Tamari, would try to pull off a stunt like this. And police in Mecca say they have arrested a Saudi man who helped Tamari sneak into Islam's holiest city, defying a rule that only Muslims can enter the area.

While Muslims of any nationality and background can enter Mecca, non-Muslims are not permitted.  A very specific code of conduct and behavior is required of all people within Mecca’s boundaries.  That code includes certain forms of modesty, ritual cleansing and prayers.

The public backlash over the Israel’s visit was immediate on social media.  It was hostile, with Muslims and Saudis expressing their anger over Tamari’s deception and apparent disregard for the sanctity of the site.

Tamari was wrong.  He acted arrogantly and selfishly.  He could have driven up to the edge of the city and not broken through the invisible, but very spiritual, boundary to the city – Islam’s holiest site.

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