How should we understand the meaning of Jerusalem Day, when we mark the day of the unification of our historic capital?
In 1997, while serving as Israel's Ambassador to the UN, I turned to the then Foreign Minister, Ariel Sharon, and asked him for instructions on how to present the issue of Jerusalem Day.
The late Sharon referred me to the speech of the first Prime Minister, the late David Ben-Gurion, who delivered in the Knesset on December 5, 1949.
Ben-Gurion made a historic decision at the end of the War of Independence to establish Jerusalem as the capital of Israel instead of Tel Aviv.
Ben-Gurion was warned by Israel's closest friends not to make this move, because according to UN General Assembly Resolution 181, Jerusalem was to be a "separate entity."
In practice Jerusalem was besieged by Arab armies and shelled by their artillery.
The Jewish Quarter in the Old City underwent ethnic cleansing: its large synagogues, some of which were built in the 13th century, were destroyed, and its Jewish residents fled for their lives.
What the war proved was that if Jerusalem were not under the sovereignty and protection of Israel, the consequences would be catastrophic.
Ben-Gurion told the Knesset: "If we had not opposed the activities of the aggressor, contrary to the UN position, Jewish Jerusalem would have been destroyed and the State of Israel would never have been established."
Ben-Gurion sought to convey a message to the world regarding Jerusalem: "A nation that faithfully honors for 2,500 years the oath sworn by the first exiles on the rivers of Babylon, not to forget Jerusalem - this people will never come to terms with parting from Jerusalem."
In the last decade we have witnessed repeated attacks on religious sites for Muslims and Christians throughout the Middle East.
Only in Israel was freedom of worship and freedom of religion preserved and not a single holy site in Jerusalem was harmed.
Only a free and democratic Israel will protect Jerusalem and all the major religions.
From 1948 to 1967, the Jewish people were denied access to their historic capital.
Jerusalem Day is a day when this injustice was corrected and Jerusalem was liberated and united.
Were we wrong?
Fixed!
If you found an error in the article, we'll be happy for you to share it with us