BACKGROUNDER: History of Jerusalem
By: Ricki Hollander Jerusalem is considered a holy city by three major faiths—Judaism, Christianity and Islam—and figures prominently in the Arab-Israeli conflict. Since 1004 BCE, when King David established Jerusalem as the capital of his kingdom, there has been a continuous Jewish presence in Jerusalem, the holiest city in Judaism. Following the building of the Church of […]
Backgrounder: The Battle Over Jerusalem and the Temple Mount
By: Ricki Hollander One of the primary obstacles to peace-making efforts in the Middle East has been the issue of dividing Jerusalem and control over the Temple Mount. Continued Muslim denial of Judaism’s historical and religious ties to Jerusalem and the Temple Mount, the Islamic Waqf’s illegal construction there, and the enlistment of international bodies […]