| Jerusalem (31°46′N 35°14′E; Hebrew: יְרוּשָׁלַיִם Yerushalayim; Arabic: القُدس (help·info) al-Quds) is an ancient Middle Eastern city on the watershed between the Mediterranean Sea and the Dead Sea at an elevation of 650-840 meter. It is located east of Tel Aviv, south of Ramallah, west of Jericho and north of Bethlehem. Jerusalem was the capital of the Jewish kingdoms of Israel, Judah and Judea in the First Temple and Second Temple periods and is the capital of the modern State of Israel. It is the holiest city of Judaism and is of key importance to Christianity and Islam. The status of the eastern part of Jerusalem as part of the Israeli capital, and the control over that part of the city and its holy places, are internationally debated.
With a population of 704,900 (as of December 31, 2004 [1]), it is a heterogeneous city, representing a wide range of national, religious, and socioeconomic groups. The section called the "Old City" is surrounded by walls and consists of four quarters: Armenian, Christian, Jewish, and Muslim. The current mayor of Jerusalem is Uri Lupolianski, the first Haredi to ever hold such position. [Read more - Jerusalem] |
