The Battle Over Jerusalem

Jerusalem is sacred to three of the world’s major religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. The Old City of Jerusalem is home to some of the holiest sites in all three religions (see “A City Divided,” below).

For Christians, it’s where Jesus was crucified around 30 A.D. For Jews, it’s the spot where the Second Temple, which was destroyed in 70 A.D., once stood and where the only remnant of that temple—a wall that held up its foundation—still stands. For Muslims, it’s where the Prophet Muhammad ascended to heaven in the 7th century.

Jerusalem’s religious significance has long made the city the focus of conflict, whether between Christians and Muslims during the Crusades in the Middle Ages or more recently between Israelis and Palestinians.

“Jerusalem has been a sensitive political issue almost throughout modern history,” says Anthony Cordesman, a Middle East expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C.

Today, both Israel and the Palestinians claim the city as their political capital. Most Middle East analysts have long assumed that any eventual peace
deal between the two sides would involve some way to share Jerusalem.   

Jerusalem is sacred to three of the world’s major religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. The Old City of Jerusalem is home to some of the holiest sites in all three religions (see “A City Divided,” below).

For Christians, it’s where Jesus was crucified around 30 A.D. For Jews, it’s the spot where the Second Temple, which was destroyed in 70 A.D., once stood. It's also where the only remnant of that temple—a wall that held up its foundation—still stands. For Muslims, it’s where the Prophet Muhammad ascended to heaven in the 7th century.

Jerusalem’s religious significance has long made the city the focus of conflict. It was a point of contention between Christians and Muslims during the Crusades in the Middle Ages. More recently it's been an issue between Israelis and Palestinians.

“Jerusalem has been a sensitive political issue almost throughout modern history,” says Anthony Cordesman, a Middle East expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C.

Today, both Israel and the Palestinians claim the city as their political capital. Most Middle East analysts have long assumed that any eventual peace deal between the two sides would involve some way to share Jerusalem.

Since 1948, it’s been U.S. policy that the status of Jerusalem is a matter for negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians. Donald Trump wasn’t the first presidential candidate to promise to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and move the U.S. embassy there; Democrat Bill Clinton (president, 1993-2001) and Republican George W. Bush (president, 2001-09) did it too when they were campaigning. President Trump is, however, the first to follow through on that pledge once in office.

Trump says it’s “the right thing to do” to acknowledge the reality that Jerusalem is the seat of Israel’s government. Decades of avoiding that fact, he says, has done little to resolve the long-standing conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.

“It would be folly to assume that repeating the exact same formula would now produce a different or better result,” Trump said in announcing his decision. Recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, he added, is “a long overdue step to advance the peace process.”

This issue is important to some of the conservative Jews and evangelical Christians who supported Trump in his run for the White House. (Many evangelicals are strong supporters of Israel because they believe Jewish possession of the Holy Land is necessary for Jesus’s return.)  

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson says it may take several years to carry out the embassy move. No other country currently has an embassy in Jerusalem, but Guatemala announced it will follow the U.S. and also move its embassy there. Several other countries, including Honduras, are reportedly considering the move as well.  

Since 1948, it’s been U.S. policy that the status of Jerusalem is a matter for negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians. Donald Trump wasn’t the first presidential candidate to promise to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and move the U.S. embassy there. Democrat Bill Clinton (president, 1993-2001) and Republican George W. Bush (president, 2001-09) did it too when they were campaigning. President Trump is, however, the first to follow through on that pledge once in office.

Trump says it’s “the right thing to do” to acknowledge the reality that Jerusalem is the seat of Israel’s government. The U.S. has avoided that fact for decades, he says. Trump says avoiding that fact has done little to resolve the long-standing conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.

“It would be folly to assume that repeating the exact same formula would now produce a different or better result,” Trump said in announcing his decision. Recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, he added, is “a long overdue step to advance the peace process.”

This issue is important to some of the conservative Jews and evangelical Christians who supported Trump in his run for the White House. Many evangelicals are strong supporters of Israel. They believe Jewish possession of the Holy Land is necessary for Jesus’s return.

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson says it may take several years to carry out the embassy move. No other country currently has an embassy in Jerusalem. But Guatemala announced it will follow the U.S. and also move its embassy there. Several other countries, including Honduras, are reportedly considering the move as well.    

Most of the international community—including the United Nations, the European Union, and the Pope—condemned Trump’s move. British Prime Minister Theresa May called it “unhelpful in terms of prospects for peace in the region.”

Israel, on the other hand, cheered the announcement. 

“The Jewish people and the Jewish state will be forever grateful,” said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. 

In the Arab world, the response was swift and angry. Across the Middle East—in Lebanon, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, and in the West Bank and Gaza—protesters took to the streets to express their outrage, and some burned photos of President Trump. 

In some places, the protests turned violent. Hundreds of Palestinian youths clashed with Israeli forces in the West Bank and dozens were injured. But overall the violence wasn’t as bad as many had feared. 

Even so, many Middle East experts say Trump’s announcement will have negative ripple effects.

“This will do tremendous damage to America’s image and interests in the region,” says Nabil Fahmy, a former foreign minister of Egypt. Of President Trump, he adds, “He is playing into the hands of the extremists and giving easy ammunition to extremists and terrorists.”

Most of the international community condemned Trump’s move. That includes the United Nations, the European Union, and the Pope. British Prime Minister Theresa May called it “unhelpful in terms of prospects for peace in the region.”

Israel, on the other hand, cheered the announcement.

“The Jewish people and the Jewish state will be forever grateful,” said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

In the Arab world, the response was swift and angry. Across the Middle East—in Lebanon, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, and in the West Bank and Gaza—protesters took to the streets to express their outrage. Some burned photos of President Trump.

In some places, the protests turned violent. Hundreds of Palestinian youths clashed with Israeli forces in the West Bank. Dozens were injured. But overall the violence wasn’t as bad as many had feared.

Even so, many Middle East experts say Trump’s announcement will have negative ripple effects.

“This will do tremendous damage to America’s image and interests in the region,” says Nabil Fahmy, a former foreign minister of Egypt. Of President Trump, he adds, “He is playing into the hands of the extremists and giving easy ammunition to extremists and terrorists.”    

Israelis and Palestinians have been at loggerheads since Israel’s founding in 1948. After the Holocaust, in which 6 million Jews were killed in Europe, many nations embraced the idea of creating a Jewish state in British-ruled Palestine, the historical homeland of the Jewish people.

In 1947, a year before British rule over Palestine was set to end, the United Nations voted to divide the area into an Arab state and a Jewish state (see Key Dates, below). The U.N. plan designated Jerusalem as a special international zone, not belonging to either country. The Jews accepted the partition plan, but the Arabs rejected it.

When the British left and Israel declared independence in 1948, Arab states—including Egypt, Syria, and Iraq—attacked. Israel survived and, in the course of the war, seized control of western Jerusalem. Jordan captured eastern Jerusalem, including all of the Old City with its religious sites and historical importance.

Two decades later, during the Six-Day War in 1967, Israel seized control of the rest of Jerusalem, along with other territories. Israel has controlled the entire city ever since.

The status of Jerusalem isn’t the only issue that divides Israelis and Palestinians. Other key issues include where to draw the borders of a Palestinian state; how to ensure Israel’s security; and what to do about the hundreds of thousands of Palestinian refugees who were displaced by the 1948 war and want the right to return.

Israelis and Palestinians have been at loggerheads since Israel’s founding in 1948. Six million Jews were killed in Europe during the Holocaust. Afterwards, many nations embraced the idea of creating a Jewish state in British-ruled Palestine, the historical homeland of the Jewish people.

In 1947, a year before British rule over Palestine was set to end, the United Nations voted to divide the area into an Arab state and a Jewish state (see Key Dates, below). The U.N. plan designated Jerusalem as a special international zone. That meant that it wouldn’t belong to either country. The Jews accepted the partition plan, but the Arabs rejected it.

When the British left and Israel declared independence in 1948, Arab states—including Egypt, Syria, and Iraq—attacked. Israel survived and, in the course of the war, seized control of western Jerusalem. Jordan captured eastern Jerusalem. This included all of the Old City with its religious sites and historical importance.

Two decades later, during the Six-Day War in 1967, Israel seized control of the rest of Jerusalem, along with other territories. Israel has controlled the entire city ever since.

The status of Jerusalem isn’t the only issue that divides Israelis and Palestinians. Other key issues include where to draw the borders of a Palestinian state and how to ensure Israel’s security. They're also split over what to do about the hundreds of thousands of Palestinian refugees who were displaced by the 1948 war and want the right to return. 

President Trump says his administration is dedicated to achieving a peace deal that will finally end the seven-decade-long conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. He insists recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital will help that cause, rather than harm it.

But many in the Middle East disagree. After Trump’s announcement, the Arab League, an international organization of 22 Arab countries, declared Trump’s announcement “dangerous and unacceptable.” Trump’s decision also stripped the U.S. of its traditional role as “sponsor and broker” for the peace process, according to the Arab League statement.

Many analysts agree that reaching common ground may now be more difficult.   

“In reality, there were very few prospects for peace before this decision,” says Cordesman, the Middle East expert, “but there may be somewhat fewer prospects now.”

President Trump says his administration is dedicated to achieving a peace deal that will finally end the seven-decade-long conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. He insists recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital will help that cause, rather than harm it.

But many in the Middle East disagree. After Trump’s announcement, the Arab League, an international organization of 22 Arab countries, declared Trump’s announcement “dangerous and unacceptable.” Trump’s decision also stripped the U.S. of its traditional role as “sponsor and broker” for the peace process, according to the Arab League statement.

Many analysts agree that reaching common ground may now be more difficult.

“In reality, there were very few prospects for peace before this decision,” says Cordesman, the Middle East expert, “but there may be somewhat fewer prospects now.”    

With reporting by The New York Times.

With reporting by The New York Times.