Jerusalem

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.

Jerusalem

Jerusalem marathon 2026 to offer special benefits for IDF reservists

Jerusalem court sends senior Lev Tahor cult leader Elazar Rumpler to prison in child abuse case

Built for the big moments: Carrington leads Hapoel Jerusalem’s recent surge

Court releases bus driver who fatally rammed haredi teen to three days of house arrest

Beyond the bus: Addressing hate behind Eisenthal’s death in a Jerusalem riot - editorial

US advancing Israeli-Syrian ski resort project on Mount Hermon, sources tell 'Post'

Bus driver rams into ultra-Orthodox protesters in Jerusalem, 14-year-old killed

Israel and Syria agree to US-supervised communication cell for military de-escalation

Even after his passing: The zoo director's dream becomes reality

AI meets screenwriting - a first-of-its-kind global course at the Sam Spiegel school

Can Israel stay in the top tier of the quantum arms race alongside US, China?

Ruth Marks Eglash: Unmatched storyteller with an international career in journalism

We checked out the new spa at the Theater Hotel – and came back relaxed

Winter in Jerusalem: Cozy soups, simple treats to warm your heart and home

Drought, protests, and destiny: Iran in the spotlight - opinion