NOVEL NEXT Chapter 1028: The Treaty of Jerusalem
The Holy City of Jerusalem has seen its better days, with rubble and trash lying all over the ground, and the streets looking like they hadn't been cleaned for several years. Unfortunately, that is exactly what happened. Due to the war that was waged for over five to six years, literally no one had the time or the will to clean up the city of Jerusalem.
All the men, old and young, were either on the frontline or in logistics supporting it. Even women were engaged in logistics for the military or working in medical tents, tending to the wounded. The elderly men and women, as well as the children too young to fight, were moved to the farthest reaches of the Kingdom of Israel, kept safe from harm and far from the major cities and towns.
Now that the war was over, people finally set foot in their holy land once again.
Rivka Perlman was one of those who returned after spending her time in the safe house for the last five to six years. Setting foot in Jerusalem once again, Rivka let out a deep and turbulent breath and broke down crying. Rivka, already 58 years old, an advanced age for people in this era, had decided to immigrate to the Kingdom of Israel, leaving behind her post as a respected head of department in a first-tier university because she wanted to contribute to her society, her community, and culture.
Although due to her qualifications, she was given an opportunity to be the director of the University of Israel, the war started, and all her hopes and dreams were shattered. She did not regret coming to the Kingdom of Israel, but regretted that her life would end without contributing anything to her society. She was very sure that the war would drag on for a very long time, so long that she wouldn't be alive to see the end of it. But somehow, maybe it was Moses' blessing, the war ended while she was still in good spirits, and she was able to come back to her spiritual temple, Jerusalem.
Wiping the tears from her eyes and adjusting her spectacles, which already had a few cracks held together by cotton thread wrapped around them, a look of determination and purpose appeared in her eyes.
Without saying anything, she took out a broomstick and started to sweep the road. Looking at her like this, all the children who had grown up under her care immediately started following her lead and started picking up trash from the street and putting it into disposable jute or hemp bags.
Miriam, a young soldier assigned to guard the safe house at the rear, stood by the carriages from which the old people and children had just disembarked. Looking at the action of Rivka and the children, her eyes moistened. 'You always say you haven't done enough for the community and lived every moment in regret, Grandma Perlman, but don't you see you have already shaped the mind of a whole generation of children to be the best of Israelites.' In the end, unable to hold onto her emotions, she even left her post and started picking up the trash.
What started as a small movement in one part of Jerusalem spread throughout the city, and the citizens who had started to come back spontaneously started to clean the city up.
Looking at all this from atop the Tower of David Citadel, one of the oldest creations of the jews that continues to exist to this current age, as an outsider, Jaishankar was amazed. This sort of unity and initiative was something he hadn't seen for a long time.
Taking a deep breath, he went inside, waiting for the guests to arrive.
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After the war ended with the Europeans' defeat, they naturally threw in the towel, especially after all the casualties they incurred, so in the end, they proposed to sign a peace treaty in order to maintain peace and stability in the region.
The treaty conditions were naturally brought to Vijay, and as he did not really want to conquer Europe or even had any idea of vying for more interest in Europe, he readily agreed to a long-term peace treaty that would be signed between Israel and the rest of the European countries.
Yes, between Israel and Europe, and not the Bharatiya Empire and Europe, because technically speaking, this war was not the war of the Bharatiya Empire but the war of Israel. At the beginning, it might have been the war of the Bharatiya Empire, but after Israel was established, it became the war of Israel, and the Bharatiya just provided reinforcements. And since most Europeans' problem lay with the existence of Israel, it was only natural that Israel would be the kingdom signing the treaty.
For this treaty to be signed, diplomats and representatives came from all over Europe with a large entourage.
First, it was the representatives of the nearby powers, the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Slavic Byzantium. Neither of their expressions looked good because, technically, it was due to Israel that they lost their previous empires, namely the Tsarist Russian Empire and the Holy Roman Empire.
And right next to them came the representatives from the Kingdom of Prussia and then the Tsarist Russian Empire.
"How do you do, sir? I hope you have been well. I've heard a lot about you."
"It's an honour meeting you, Mr. Jaishankar. I grew up hearing the legends of you spoken by my father."
"You are?"
"Oh, where are my manners? Let me formally introduce myself to you, sir. I am the son of King Ferdinand Williams, Philip Williams, and I have come to the Holy City to represent the Kingdom of Prussia and sign the peace treaty."
"Oh, so it's Prince William, haha. Forgive me for not recognising you, please come."
The discussions were extremely cordial, but this was no surprise to anyone, because if not for the Bharatiya Empire supporting them, both the Kingdom of Prussia and the Tsarist Russian Empire would never have been established. Right as the two diplomats from Prussia and the Russian Empire entered the Citadel, their expressions changed, but Jaishankar, who noticed this, acted as if he had seen nothing and walked to the window, waiting to see who else would arrive. As for what happened between the two rivals, he did not care, for this was exactly what His Majesty wanted to see.
Getting down from the luxurious carriage, waving the flag of two red stripes and the Royal Court of Arms bearing the motto "If God is with us, then who is against us, for faith, law, and King," was the representative of Polish-Lithuania, an unlucky country that had now become the centre of four different great powers. Its route to expansion had been completely cut off, and even its very existence was threatened.
Maybe because the Bharatiya Empire was indirectly responsible for their current situation, the representative of Polish-Lithuania did not try to greet Jaishankar after entering the Citadel.
Right after them came the Italians. Their expressions were complicated. In a way, they were thankful for the war, because it was thanks to the war that the Papal States had completely lost its power, and its land was now firmly occupied by the Italian Federation. On the other hand, they did not want the Kingdom of Israel to exist.
Afterwards came the diplomats from Spain and Portugal. They looked expressionless, as if they did not care whether the Kingdom of Israel existed or not, because they knew that if Israel was going to be a problem, it would be somebody else's problem first before it came to them.
After them came the Scandinavians, the countries of Denmark-Norway and Sweden. In the war, they hadn't participated much since it was too far away from them, but they decided to participate in the treaty, worried that they would be targeted by the Bharatiya Empire.
And finally, representing the Western Alliance, diplomats from the Kingdom of Britain, the Kingdom of France, and the Netherlands set foot in the Tower of David Citadel.
With everyone present, the conference for signing the treaty officially began. Otis Goldstein, technically the Minister of Foreign Affairs for the Kingdom of Israel, remained silent and did not stop Jaishankar, the Minister of External Affairs of Bharat, from leading the conference. He knew that Europe warred with Israel only on paper; in practice, they were fighting the Bharatiya Empire and its involvement in European affairs.
The contents of the treaty were simple: maintaining peace, drawing boundaries, and opening trade. Nothing else was discussed, as both parties knew they were far from friendly, and the peace was merely a means to an end.
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The Treaty of Jerusalem (1686)
In the Holy City of Jerusalem, in the year 1686, representatives of the Kingdom of Israel and the sovereign states of Europe, having endured years of devastating conflict, do hereby agree to establish a peace between their realms.
Article I – Peace and Cessation of Hostilities
All hostilities between the Kingdom of Israel and the European signatories shall cease immediately.
No army or fleet of the signatory powers shall take up arms against one another for the duration of this treaty.
Article II – Recognition and Boundaries
The existence and sovereignty of the Kingdom of Israel shall be recognised by all signatories.
Boundaries as presently held at the cessation of war shall be maintained, unless altered by mutual agreement in future negotiations.
Article III – Trade and Commerce
Trade routes by land and sea between the Kingdom of Israel and the European powers shall be reopened.
Merchants of all nations shall be allowed to travel, buy, and sell goods under fair and equal treatment.
Tariffs and duties shall be determined in future separate agreements and shall not hinder the present peace.
Article IV – Duration of Peace
This treaty shall remain in force for twenty (20) years from the date of signing.
Any breach shall be first addressed by diplomacy before recourse to arms.
Article V – Faith and Neutrality
The signatories affirm that this peace is concluded for the security of nations and the welfare of their peoples, and not as a bond of alliance or friendship.
Each realm shall remain free in its faith, laws, and governance, without interference from others.
Article VI – Ratification
This treaty shall be signed and sealed by the appointed envoys and plenipotentiaries of the participating realms within the Citadel of David, Jerusalem.
Copies shall be carried to the courts of all signatory powers for ratification and preservation.
Thus, in witness whereof, the undersigned representatives of the Kingdom of Israel and of the sovereign states of Europe affix their names and seals in the Holy City of Jerusalem, this year 1686.