Backing up the argument: Since 1967, hundreds of thousands of Muslims and Christians - many from Arab countries that remain in a state of war with Israel - have come to Jerusalem to visit the holy places. Arab leaders are free to visit Jerusalem to pray if they wish to, just as Egyptian President Anwar Sadat did at the Al-Aqsa mosque. Former US President Jimmy Carter acknowledged that religious freedom has been enhanced under Israeli rule. There is no doubt that Israel did a better job safeguarding access to the city's holy places than did Jordan. "There is unimpeded access today," Carter noted. "There wasn't from 1948-67." ( See background )