Jerusalem is an ancient city and capital of the State of Israel, located in the center of the country. The Palestinian Authority also lays claim to Jerusalem as the Palestinian capital.
Jerusalem is considered a holy city by major religions, chiefly Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Jerusalem is a host to many religious sites, especially within the walls of the old city. The Temple Mount is remains of the Jewish temples, and the holiest site in Judaism. Jews often pray at the Western Wall, or Kotel, a retaining wall for the Temple Mount built by Herod the Great. On the temple mount now sit the al-Aqsa and Dome of the Rock mosques, the former being the 3rd holiest site in Islam. Several chirstian sites, such as the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, are important to many sects of Christianity.
As it is the political capital of Israel, Jerusalem is home to the Israeli parliament, the Knesset. There are also ministries that have their headquarters in Jerusalem, such as the Foreign Ministry. The status of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel is not recognized by all international actors. However, embassies of states such as the US reside in Jerusalem.
Jerusalem is built on several hills, and has a cooler climate than many other major cities. One of its aesthetic features is that buildings are made with Jerusalem stone, a pale white-yellow limestone.
Jerusalem has been the center of Jewish life since Davidic times. In its history, it has been conquered and destroyed dozens of times by invading armies and empires. However, there has always been a Jewish presence in Jerusalem. In late 1800 Ottoman censuses, Jews were a majority of the population of Jerusalem. However, Jerusalem was set to be an international city in initial partition plans in the late 1940s. Following the Israeli War of Independence, Jerusalem was split between east and west, with the east side being in the possession of Jordan. In 1967, Israel retook east Jerusalem, and the bulk of Jewish holy sites. In 1980, the Knesset passed the “Basic Law: Jerusalem, Capital of Israel” which establishes a united Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and under complete Israeli sovereignty.
Boycotting Israeli universities doesn’t just harm Israel; it deprives students worldwide of the opportunity to study at an outstanding institution in a beautiful, historic, diverse, and fair country
Jerusalem's Art Shelter Gallery, founded in 2003, is the first visual arts space for the haredi community.
While Tel Aviv weakens, Jerusalem’s luxury market soars due to foreign buyers, boutique projects, and rich Jewish history - driving prices up to NIS 75,000 per sqm. Special review with Oren Cohen.
The Israeli literary community will be in high-profile attendance as well, with the likes of Dorit Rabinyan, Lihi Lapid, Bilha Ben-Eliyahu, and Bacol Serlui.
“Even during the war that is currently taking place, and in the incessant war since 1948, Israel continues to create and enrich the world with its culture."
Neighborhood Corner: Kiryat Shmuel is shaped by religious leadership, urban planning under the British Mandate, and the trials of Israel’s early statehood.
From May 21 until September 1 much of the Red Line will be shut down. The light rail will continue to operate from Neveh Ya’akov to Givat Hamivtar and Hadassah Ein Kerem to the Central Bus Station.
Just before summer, three urban hotels offer packages with luxury stays, unlimited rosé, a Mashina celebration show, or a meal at a top restaurant. Prices start from NIS 573 for a couple.
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