The Battle Over Jerusalem

Israel and the Palestinians have been at odds since the founding of Israel in 1948. After World War II (1939-1945) and the Holocaust, in which 6 million European Jews were killed, many nations embraced the idea of creating a Jewish state in British-ruled Palestine. (The region was the historical homeland of the Jewish people.) As Jews began moving to the area in increasing numbers, tensions erupted between them and the Palestinians, most of whom are Muslim.

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

Jews accepted the plan, and the following year they founded the nation of Israel, which later became a key U.S. ally. Arab leaders rejected the partition plan.

In 1948, Israel’s Arab neighbors attacked. Israel survived and, in the course of the war, seized control of western Jerusalem. Two decades later, during the Six-Day War in 1967, Israel captured the rest of Jerusalem, along with other territories. Israel has controlled the entire city ever since.

Israel and the Palestinians have been at odds since Israel was founded in 1948. During World War II (1939-1945) and the Holocaust, 6 million European Jews were killed. Afterward, many nations embraced the idea of creating a Jewish state in British-ruled Palestine. (The region was the historical homeland of the Jewish people.) Jews began moving to the area in increasing numbers. But tensions broke out between them and the Palestinians, most of whom are Muslim.

British rule over Palestine was set to end in 1948. But the year before, the United Nations (U.N.) voted to divide the area into a Jewish state and an Arab state (see key dates, below). The plan identified Jerusalem as a special international zone. That meant it would not belong to either country.

Jews accepted the plan. The next year they founded the nation of Israel, which later became a key U.S. ally. But Arab leaders rejected the plan.

In 1948, Israel’s Arab neighbors attacked. Israel survived. In the course of the war, Israel seized control of western Jerusalem. Two decades later, in the Six-Day War of 1967, Israel captured the rest of Jerusalem and other territories. Israel has controlled the entire city ever since.

Jerusalem is sacred to three of the world’s major religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Some of the most important sites in all three religions are located there: for Jews, the Western Wall; for Christians, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre; and for Muslims, the Dome of the Rock (see map, below). 

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

Today, both Israel and the Palestinians claim the city as their capital. Most Middle East analysts have long thought that any eventual peace deal would involve some way for Israelis and Palestinians to share Jerusalem.

Jerusalem is sacred to Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Those are three of the world’s major religions. Some of the most important sites in all three religions are located in Jerusalem. For Jews, it is the Western Wall. For Christians, it is the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. For Muslims, it is the Dome of the Rock (see map, below).

The city’s religious importance has long made Jerusalem the focus of conflict. For example, Christians and Muslims clashed during the Crusades in the Middle Ages. More recently, there has been violence between Israelis and the 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.

Today, both Israel and the Palestinians claim the city as their capital. Most Middle East analysts have long thought that any eventual peace deal would involve some way for Israelis and Palestinians to share Jerusalem.

For decades, the official policy of the U.S. has been that the status of Jerusalem was for Israel and the Palestinians to decide themselves. President Trump, however, says it’s “the right thing to do” to acknowledge the reality that Jerusalem is the seat of Israel’s government. His decision also represents the fulfillment of a promise he made on the campaign trail.  

The Trump administration has announced plans to move the U.S. embassy from the city of Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, which could take at least three years. No other country currently has an embassy in Jerusalem, but Guatemala has 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.

Many in the international community—including the U.N., the European Union, and Pope Francis—have condemned Trump’s decision. Even longtime U.S. allies, such as the United Kingdom and Germany, said it would hurt the peace process. 

For decades, the official U.S. policy has been that Israel and the Palestinians should decide on Jerusalem’s status themselves. President Trump, however, says it’s “the right thing to do” to acknowledge the reality that Jerusalem is the seat of Israel’s government. His decision also represents the fulfillment of a promise he made on the campaign trail.

The Trump administration has announced plans to move the U.S. embassy from the city of Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. This could take at least three years. No other country currently has an embassy in Jerusalem. However, Guatemala has announced it will follow the U.S. and also move its embassy there. Honduras and several other countries are reportedly considering the move as well.

Many in the international community have condemned Trump’s decision. That group includes the U.N., the European Union, and Pope Francis. Even longtime U.S. allies, such as the United Kingdom and Germany, said it would hurt the peace process.

Israel, on the other hand, cheered the decision. “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, protesters took to the streets to express their outrage. In some places, the protests turned violent. Hundreds of young Palestinians clashed with Israeli forces in the West Bank and dozens were injured. But overall, the violence hasn’t been as bad as many people had feared. 

Even so, many experts said Trump’s announcement would have negative ripple effects throughout the Middle East. “This will do tremendous damage to America’s image and interests in the region,” says Nabil Fahmy, a former Egyptian official.

Israel, on the other hand, cheered the decision. “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, protesters took to the streets to express their outrage. In some places, the protests turned violent. Hundreds of young Palestinians clashed with Israeli forces in the West Bank. Dozens were injured. But overall, the violence has not been as bad as many people had feared.

Even so, many experts said Trump’s announcement would have negative ripple effects throughout the Middle East. “This will do tremendous damage to America’s image and interests in the region,” says Nabil Fahmy, a former Egyptian official.

The status of Jerusalem isn’t the only issue that divides Israelis and Palestinians. Other issues are how to ensure Israel’s security and where to draw the borders of a Palestinian state in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip (see maps, below). There’s also the question of what to do about the hundreds of thousands of Palestinian refugees who were displaced by the 1948 war and want the right to return.  

Trump says his administration is working on solving those issues and achieving a lasting peace agreement—what he has called the “ultimate deal.” He says recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital is the first step toward advancing the peace process.

But many people in the Middle East disagree. The Arab League, a group of 22 Arab countries, declared Trump’s decision “dangerous.” 

Although resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has always been a long shot, many analysts say that reaching common ground may be even more difficult now. 

“There were very few prospects for peace before this decision,” says Cordesman. “But there may be somewhat fewer prospects now.” 

With reporting by The New York Times

The status of Jerusalem is not the only issue that divides Israelis and Palestinians. Another issue is how to ensure Israel’s security. Also, there is a question of where to draw the borders of a Palestinian state in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip (see maps, below). Another question is what to do about the hundreds of thousands of Palestinian refugees who were displaced by the 1948 war. They want the right to return.

Trump says his administration is working on solving those issues. He says they are working on achieving a lasting peace agreement, which he has called the “ultimate deal.” He also says that recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital is the first step toward advancing the peace process.

But many people in the Middle East disagree. The Arab League, a group of 22 Arab countries, declared Trump’s decision “dangerous.”

Although settling the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has always been a long shot, many analysts say that reaching common ground may be even more difficult now.

“There were very few prospects for peace before this decision,” says Cordesman. “But there may be somewhat fewer prospects now.”

With reporting by The New York Times