The City of Jerusalem is the capital of Palestine and its largest city in terms of area and population, and most important religiously and economically. It was founded and built by our Jebusite ancestors in the fifth millennium BC, at the end of The Chalcolithic period. It is a mountainous area between the Mediterranean and the Dead Sea. The city has grown and expanded repeatedly, and its culture and demographic composition have been shaped by the fluctuations of civilizations up to the present day.
The ancient history of Jerusalem reflects its unique position in human history, as Jerusalem is considered a spiritual and cultural center, distinguished by the diversity of civilizations that passed through it, which left rich traces that reflect the greatness of this place. As for its abundant traces, they indicate a continuous reformulation of the city’s history and confirm its importance over time. It remains one of the most influential cities in the world to this day. Throughout history, several factors have contributed to making the city of Jerusalem a unique cultural and spiritual center, the most important of which are its geographical location, religious significance, and cultural diversity.
The unique and strategic location of the city at the crossroads of the three continents of Asia, Africa, and Europe makes it a meeting point for trade and cultural routes. It is considered a holy place for the followers of the three religions, Judaism, Christianity and Islam. It contains important religious landmarks such as Al-Aqsa Mosque, the Dome of the Rock, and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, making it a destination for visitors and pilgrims throughout the ages. Jerusalem has witnessed the presence of many different ancient civilizations, including the Canaanites, Romans, Arabs, Crusaders, and Ottomans, and each civilization left its mark on the city, adding to its cultural and architectural richness.
Jerusalem has been greatly influenced by the different civilizations that have passed through it throughout history and left their mark on the city, which contributed to shaping and enriching its cultural and architectural identity, making it a meeting point for different religions and cultures throughout the ages. The most important influences are those caused by the Canaanite, Roman, Islamic, Crusader, and Ottoman civilizations.
Canaanite Civilization: Jerusalem is considered one of the oldest cities in the world. It was founded by the Canaanites (around 3000 BC), and their civilization left architectural and cultural monuments such as ancient walls and temples, reflecting the beginning of the history of the city that the Jebusites chose to be their center.
The Roman Era: After the Roman conquest, Jerusalem witnessed major changes in infrastructure, including the construction of temples and roads, and the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 AD, which had a profound impact on Judaism.
Islamic Civilization: Following the Islamic conquest in the seventh century AD, Jerusalem emerged as a vital center of Islamic culture and learning. During the Rashidun and Umayyad periods, two of the city’s most iconic landmarks—the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock—were constructed, greatly enhancing its religious and spiritual significance. Under Islamic rule, Jerusalem experienced a flourishing of cultural, scientific, and intellectual life, becoming a beacon of scholarship and artistic achievement in the region.
The Crusader Period: During the Crusades, the Crusaders captured Jerusalem and established their own kingdom within the city. This era left a lasting imprint on Jerusalem’s landscape through the construction of impressive architectural monuments, including fortified castles and grand churches. The Crusader occupation also had a profound impact on the city’s demographic makeup and cultural character, introducing new social, religious, and political dynamics that reshaped Jerusalem’s identity for generations.
The Ottoman Rule: The Ottoman rule of Jerusalem lasted for more than 400 years (1517 – 1917), during which the city witnessed a cultural and architectural  prosperity and many Islamic landmarks were built. The city was greatly developed, and the Ottomans contributed to preserving the cultural and religious diversity of the city.
Throughout its long and turbulent history, and owing to its immense religious and strategic importance, Jerusalem has been destroyed twice, besieged 23 times, attacked 52 times, and captured and recaptured 44 times. As one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, Jerusalem holds a unique place in human civilization. Traditionally, the city has been divided into four distinct quarters: the Armenian Quarter, the Christian Quarter, the Jewish Quarter, and the Muslim Quarter. Today, Jerusalem remains at the heart of the ongoing conflict between the Palestinian people and the Zionist settlement project, symbolizing both the city’s enduring legacy and its central role in contemporary struggles.
Jerusalem in the 20th Century:
In 1917, following the defeat of the Ottoman Empire in World War I, Jerusalem—and all of Palestine—fell under British Mandate control through the British Mandate. A defining feature of this era was the sharp increase in Jewish immigration to the city, with the Jewish population rising from 52,000 to 165,000 by 1948. Britain facilitated this growth by constructing entire neighborhoods in the north and west of Jerusalem and establishing institutions to serve the Jewish community.
In 1947, the United Nations proposed a plan to place Jerusalem and Bethlehem under international administration, supervised by the UN, with a referendum to be held after ten years to allow residents to determine their future governance. However, in 1948, Britain abruptly ended its mandate, withdrew its forces, and left behind the infrastructure and armaments in the hands of Zionist militias, while simultaneously suppressing Palestinian resistance and persecuting the indigenous population. That same year, Zionist forces occupied the western part of Jerusalem.
In 1967, during the Six-Day War, the newly established Israeli state seized control of East Jerusalem, which had been under the administration of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. In 1980, Israel officially annexed East Jerusalem, declaring the unified city as its capital—a move widely condemned and deemed illegal under international law and UN resolutions. Further entrenching this control, between 2002 and 2006, Israel constructed the so-called “Separation Wall,” effectively isolating Jerusalem and its surrounding areas from the rest of the occupied West Bank, deepening the fragmentation of Palestinian territory and communities.