Jerusalem

I

Introduction

Jerusalem (Hebrew Yerushalayim; Arabic Al Quds), city lying at the intersection of Israel and the West Bank, located between the Mediterranean Sea and the Dead Sea, about 50 km (about 30 mi) southeast of the Israeli city of Tel Aviv-Yafo. Jerusalem is composed of two distinct sections: West Jerusalem and East Jerusalem. West Jerusalem, which is inhabited almost entirely by Jews, has been part of Israel since Israel was established in 1948. East Jerusalem, which has a large Palestinian Arab population and recently constructed Jewish areas, was held by Jordan between 1949 and the Six-Day War of 1967. During the war, East Jerusalem was captured by Israel, which has administered it since. Israel claims that Jerusalem is its capital, but Palestinians dispute the claim and the United Nations has not recognized it as such. Jews, Christians, and Muslims consider Jerusalem a holy city, and it contains sites sacred to all three religions.

Located on a cluster of hilltops and valleys, Jerusalem straddles Haray Yehuda, or the Judean Hills, which run north-south in Israel, dividing the coastal plain from the Great Rift Valley. Summers in Jerusalem are hot and dry, with cooler temperatures and rain in the winter. Snow falls infrequently.

II

Jerusalem and Its Metropolitan Area

Jerusalem presents a mixture of well-preserved historical artifacts and the characteristic developments of a modern urban area. The greatest concentration of religious and historical sites is in the Old City, which was part of East Jerusalem when Jerusalem was divided. A wall constructed in ad 1538 during the reign of the Ottoman ruler Süleyman I contains the Old City. The area inside the wall is roughly divided into quadrants, named for their dominant ethnic communities: the Muslim, Jewish, Christian, and Armenian quarters. An Arab market, or suq, lines the main axis of the Old City, giving it a crowded and bustling atmosphere.

Modern Jerusalem surrounds the Old City. Somewhat older neighborhoods are located to the east and south, and newer neighborhoods, to the west and north. The center of economic activity is to the west of the Old City, as are Israeli government institutions including the Israeli parliament, called the Knesset (completed in 1966), the Supreme Court Building (1992), and the City Hall complex (1993). Monuments commemorating recent national events and accomplishments are also found in the modern sections of Jerusalem, as are many points relating to the first Arab-Israeli war (1948-1949) and to the Six-Day War (1967). The national cemetery is located on Mount Herzl to the west of the Israeli government buildings.

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A number of features make Jerusalem’s landscape distinct from that of other cities. Planning regulations dating back to the early 20th century have limited the height of most structures in the city and channeled construction to hilltops; the valleys are intended to remain as open space. The British, who ruled the area from 1917 to 1948, also mandated the use of local limestone, known as Jerusalem Stone, for all facades. The pinkish-white color of the stone changes throughout the day, turning different hues as the light shifts. Because of the strict control on building, Jerusalem has a compact and uniform character. Its total area is about 123 sq km (about 47 sq mi). The boundaries of the city are frequently disputed, however, since Israel has confiscated and settled areas adjacent to Jerusalem considered by Palestinians to be part of the West Bank.

III

Economy

Jerusalem’s economy is centered in government and public services, including tourism, but some manufacturing and high-technology industries also exist. Among the principal products of the factories in modern Jerusalem are shoes, textiles, pharmaceuticals, metal products, and printed materials. The factories are located mainly in the Atarot industrial center in northern Jerusalem, along the Ramallah Road.

Main roads run from Jerusalem to Amman, Jordan, in the east, to Ramallah and Nābulus (Nablus) in the north, and to Beersheba, through Bethlehem and Hebron, in the south. A rail line and an expressway link Jerusalem to Tel Aviv-Yafo in the west. The Atarot airport (called Kalandia airport by Arabic speakers), a small international airport, is located at the northern extremity of Jerusalem.

IV

Population

The population of Jerusalem is divided along lines of ethnicity, religion, and nationality; the primary division is between the Jewish Israeli majority (70 percent) and the Palestinian Arab minority (30 percent). Further divisions exist within both of these groups. The Jewish population has a variety of communities, some based on degree of religious observance. Many strictly Orthodox Jews are concentrated in the Mea She’arim religious neighborhood. In the Palestinian population, distinctions can be made according to Christian or Muslim affiliation. The combined population of East and West Jerusalem in 2004 was 701,512.

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