History
Why is Jerusalem so important?
EXPLAINED FROM SOURCES
The short answer
Jerusalem is enormously important to Jews, Muslims and Christians — and both Israelis and Palestinians see it as central to their national identity. For Jews, it contains the Western Wall and the site where the ancient Jewish temples stood. For Muslims, it contains the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, one of Islam’s holiest sites.
The fuller explanation
Jerusalem is enormously important to Jews, Muslims and Christians — and both Israelis and Palestinians see it as central to their national identity.
For Jews, it contains the Western Wall and the site where the ancient Jewish temples stood.
For Muslims, it contains the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, one of Islam’s holiest sites.
For Christians, it contains places associated with the life, crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus.
Israel considers Jerusalem its capital.
Palestinians want East Jerusalem, which Israel captured in 1967, to be the capital of a Palestinian state.
The international community generally regards East Jerusalem as part of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, and does not recognise Israel’s acquisition of it through the 1967 war.
That makes Jerusalem not only a religious issue, but one of the most difficult political questions in the conflict.