Jerusalem
Jerusalem is an ancient city holy to Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, whose contested political status remains one of the most significant and enduring issues in Middle Eastern geopolitics.
Sacred to three of the world's major religions and claimed as a capital by two different peoples, few cities on Earth carry as much simultaneous religious significance and unresolved political weight as this one.
Sacred to Three Faiths
Jerusalem holds profound religious significance for Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, home to sites including the Western Wall, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound.
Thousands of Years of History
The city has been continuously inhabited for roughly 5,000 years, conquered and ruled by numerous civilizations including ancient Israelite kingdoms, Rome, various Islamic caliphates, and the Ottoman Empire.
A Contested Political Status
Jerusalem's political status remains one of the most contentious issues in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with both Israel and Palestinians claiming portions of the city as their capital.
An Enduring Center of Pilgrimage
Despite ongoing political tensions, Jerusalem continues to draw millions of religious pilgrims and tourists annually from around the world, visiting sites sacred across multiple faith traditions.
