What is the Gilo Settlement in Jerusalem?

Gilo is one of the fifteen main Israeli settlements in and around Jerusalem.

This article addresses the settlement’s main characteristics.

Where is the Gilo Settlement in Jerusalem located?

Gilo is located in southwest East Jerusalem.^[1] It lies across a narrow valley next to Bethlehem. ^[2]

Gilo is built on Jordanian lands conquered by Israel after the Six Day War in 1967.^[3]The lands originally belong to the Palestinian village Beit Safafa.^[4]

How Big is the Gilo Settlement?

The conquered land is estimated to be 2700 acre, while the habituated land of Gilo is estimated to be 2743 acre, adding land that did not belong to Beit Safafa.^[5]

What is the population of the Gilo Settlement?

Gilo is inhabited by 40,000 Israeli settlers.^[6]

Is the Gilo Settlement Recognized Internationally as Israeli Land or Illegal?

Israel has annexed Gilo’s land and has made it part of Jerusalem, a step that was never recognized by the international community.^[7]

Administratively, Gilo follows the municipality of Jerusalem.^[8]

Gilo, similar to other Israeli settlements in Palestinian lands, is considered illegal under international law.

Article 49 of the fourth Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in the Time of War states “the occupying power shall not deport or transfer parts of its own population into the territories it occupies.”^[9]Israel, however, does not consider Israeli communities within Jerusalem to be settlements, as they claim it is part of Israel.^[10]

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The Christian Quarter is one of the four quarters that exists within the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem, alongside the Jewish, Armenian and Islamic Quarters.

Location

The Christian Quarter is located in the northwestern corner of the city. It extends north from the Jadid Gate (New Gate) and continues along the Western Wall, until the Hebron Gate in the south.^[1]

History

The quarter has its origins in the time of the Byzantine Empire when residents of the area began building around the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. Due to its religious importance, the quarter was restored and expanded by western funds and donations.^[2] Most quarter’s land, specifically around the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, is owned by the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate.^[3] The quarter has some of the oldest buildings in Jerusalem and is now inhabited by roughly 7,000 Jerusalemites, most of whom are Christian.^[4]

Landmarks

The quarter is packed with historic landmarks such as churches, monasteries, hotels, markets and restaurants. The quarter has more than 40 Christian sites including the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.^[5] The quarter is also home to churches that are associated with different Christian sects, such as the Latin Patriarchate, San Salvador, Franciscan Monastery, and the oldest church in Jerusalem, the Church of John the Baptist..^[6] Museums associated with the Orthodox Patriarchate, and a pool called Hezekiah used to store rainwater also exist within the confines of the Christian quarter.^[7]

The most famous commercial street in the quarter is the Morstan, which has a hospital built by the Crusaders in the eleventh century. The Omar Mosque is also located within the Christian Quarter.^[8]

Judization Policy

Similar to the other parts of the Old City of Jerusalem, the Christian Quarter faced many Israeli attempts to change its Arab character and deport its Christian inhabitants. Israel has taken many steps to control the quarter. In addition to facilitating the immigration process for Christians in Jerusalem, Israel has taken over many Christian Arab lands and institutions around and within the Christian Quarter, such as Petra and Imperial Hotels, which are used to host Christian pilgrims in the city.^[9] Furthermore, the Israeli municipal government imposes high taxes on Christian Jerusalemites and threatens to demolish their homes in the quarter unless they pay a sum of $38,000 for each house. This seriously threatens the Arab Christian presence in the city for most inhabitants cannot afford to make that payment on their homes.^[10] There are two Israeli centers for Jewish settlers that maintain a permanent Israeli presence in the quarter.^[11]

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When Israel occupied the eastern part of the city of Jerusalem, including the Old City, in 1967, it started implementing its plan of changing the Arab character of the city to reflect a more Jewish view. Many excavation operations have been carried out, especially in the southern and western parts of Al-Aqsa Plaza, ^[1]and many tunnels have been dug under the walls of the Old City. Furthermore, many buildings and facilities.^[2] have been destroyed, many of which without valid explanation. Israeli reasoning and methodology will be explored in this article

.

Background

In the years of 1967-1968, Israeli occupation of the Old City of Jerusalem began. With the occupation came the extensive excavations in the southern and western parts of Al-Aqsa Plaza.^[3] Some of these excavations went deep enough to uncover Roman and early Islamic remains from as far back as the Middle Ages. ^[4]

Dozens of excavations were uncovered by Jerusalemites under and around the Old City. The Western Tunnel, also known as the Jebusite or Al-Buraq Tunnel, is the most famous of the excavations,^{[5] because of its history and its measurements, as it is 450m long with a height of 2.5m.[6] Israel started working on this tunnel, located under the Ottoman Court and next to the Western Wall, in 1970.[7]} In 1987 a water channel was uncovered in that tunnel, and Israelis tried to continue digging. They had to stop. however, because of Palestinian resistance. Still, in 1996, Israel secretly continued working on the tunnel, which led to violent clashes with the Palestinians. This resulted in the murder of 88 Palestinian youth.^[8] In addition to the aforementioned, many other tunnels were dug or are currently being dug under and around the Old City. Some of the tunnels almost reached the Dome of the Rock, such as the Qattanin Gate Tunnel in 1981, however they were stopped by the Palestinian Endowment Authority, who filled the tunnels with concrete.^[9]

Reasons Behind the Excavations

The excavations are carried out as part of the continuous search for remains of the First and Second Temples that were allegedly built where the Dome of the Rock stands today..^[10] Others argue that the main reason Israel carries out excavations under and around Al-Aqsa is its desire to ultimately cause the destruction of both the mosque and the Islamic and historical buildings around it by weakening their bases, using the story of the temples only as a guise.
.^[11]

Israel is planning to build a religious city under Al-Aqsa Plaza, which would be used for tourism purposes, while it prepares to rebuild the Third Temple.^[12] This plan was disclosed to the public by Israel itself back during the Camp David negotiations with the Arab leaders in 2000. The Israeli negotiation team expressed its interest in the area beneath Al-Aqsa, stating that they would leave the upper level for the Muslims.^[13]

Overall, Israel has a number of reasons as to why they carry out the aforementioned excavations. Some are historical, such as focusing on finding pieces of Jewish history in the region, while some of them are religious, such as rebuilding the holy temples. Finally, some are political, as Israelis aim to change the cultural and religious character of the Arab and Muslim parts of the Holy City^.[14]

Effects of the Excavations on the City

Excavations resulted in the cracks in the infrastructure of historical buildings, which led to the collapse of portions of said buildings. These issues even affected Al-Aqsa Mosque and its facilities, so much so that experts in the field warn that an earthquake with a magnitude of five would lead to the complete destruction of the mosque. ^[15] In addition, the excavations work as a form of practical control over the occupied land by aiding in judaizing the city, establishing more settlements, and replacing the Islamic and Arab history with a Jewish one.^[16]

Destruction plan around Al-Aqsa

One might think that the excavations are limited to the many tunnels under and around Al-Aqsa. This is only part of the scary truth, however. Even earlier than 1967, Israel had been destroying the Arab buildings in the city. One of the earliest landmarks to be destroyed was the Moroccan Quarter in the Old City..^[17] A total of 135 Palestinian homes were destroyed, resulting in the expulsion of 650 Palestinian Muslims.^[18]

The Israeli authorities are also changing the historical and religious character of the city by modernizing the city in such a way that presents Israel as the sovereign owner of the city. For example, a historical religious school in the southern part of the city has been updated and is now being used as a training center for Israeli border patrol..^[19]

After Israel carries out their excavation operations, Palestinians attempt to repair the foundations that have been damaged in the process. Israel denies the Palestinian Endowment Authority the right to make these repairs, maintaining that the damage is irreparable and that the buildings are going to collapse despite any repairs..^[20]This has happened repeatedly in the past, and the Israeli refusal to allow the restoration of Al-Marwani Mosque in 2004 and the Al-Mughrabie Gate in 2007 are examples.^[21]

Israeli Denial

Israel, under international pressure and condemnation, has been denying the existence of any excavations.^[22] while refusing to allow any international committee under the UN to enter and investigate .^[23] This denial is refuted by the facts on the ground, which are recorded, photographed and shared by Jerusalemites and international activists who gain access to the tunnels. In the past, especially in the 1970s, Israel was not ashamed to declare its real intentions in carrying out its “sacred mission.” This was reported by Yedioth Ahronoth, one of Israel’s official news papers.^[24] The report held that the government’s intention to uncover the Wailing Wall was a “historical and sacred mission” that would also “diminish [the] buildings around it.” This was reassured by Moshe Dayan, Minister of Defense in 1971.^[25]

The Reaction of the International Community

When the excavations began in the 1960s and 70s, the international community opposed the Israeli excavations and considered them a crime for which Israel had to be punished. Kathleen Kenyon, who was on an archaeological mission sponsored by the British government to Jerusalem, considered the Israeli excavations in the Old City a major crime and called upon the international community to stop the systematic destruction of the character of the city.^[26]

The Reaction of the United Nations

The three main bodies of the United Nations (the Security Council, the General Assembly, and UNESCO) have been condemning the Israeli archeological excavations in the Old City ever since the excavations started in 1967, and repeatedly requested Israel to desist from altering the features of Jerusalem’s historical and cultural character. The UN also repeatedly called on Israel to preserve the historical and religious heritage of Jerusalem..^[27]The UN Security Council addressed the issue in many of its resolutions,^[28]in which it considered the Israeli measures, including the excavations that intended to change the status of Jerusalem void and null.^[29]

UN General Assembly in many of its resolutions ^[30] condemned the Israeli transformation of Jerusalem’s historical, cultural and religious sites in an attempt to change the city’s status and identity.^[31]
UNESCO has long expressed its condemnation of the Israeli actions in Jerusalem, especially those which aim at changing the status of the city.^[32] UNESCO even went as far as listing Jerusalem on its Endangered World Heritage List. Many resolutions were passed ^[33] in which the UNESCO expressed its concerns and condemnation of the archeological works of Israel including the excavations under and around Al-Aqsa compound.^[34]Moreover, UNESCO requested the appointment of a permanent representative of the UN to be stationed in East Jerusalem^[35]   After many futile attempts by UNESCO to ask Israel to stop its illegal actions in Jerusalem, including the excavations, UNESCO decided to cut its financial aid to Israel. This had some negative impacts, however, as the US responded by cutting aid to UNESCO to pressure them into easing up on Israel.^[36]

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Picture 1 https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&ved=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.yenisafak.com%2Far%2Fworld%2F3413710&psig=AOvVaw2yhWhZiBx9hEL-iuekVml8&ust=1569958843774596

Picture 2 excavation 3 https://www.alwatanvoice.com/arabic/news/2017/03/15/1028934.html

Picture 3 excavation 4 https://www.sasapost.com/excavations-al-aqsa-mosque/

Kochav Yaakov, named in honor of prophet Jacob and referred to as Al-Nabi Ya‘qub in Arabic is a settlement founded on the lands annexed from Kafr Aqeb south to Al-Ram. This Palestinian land of approximately 1835 acres was confiscated back in 1967-1968 after the Six-Day War.^[1] At Least 19,300 settlers live on 862 acres of that land in more than 3800 housing units.^[2]

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After Israel occupied West Jerusalem in 1948, the international community came to a consensus that the eastern part of the city belongs to Palestinians and is to be the capital of their future state. Despite this, and following the Six-Day War in 1967, Israel took over East Jerusalem and annexed its lands, and in 1980, the Israeli Knesset declared it the capital of Israel under the law of Great and Unified Jerusalem.^[1]

Since then, Israel has confiscated more than eighteen thousand acres of lands belong to Palestinians. nineteen Israeli Jewish settlements have been constructed in and around East Jerusalem in a space that covers more than thirteen thousand acres.^[2]

The Israeli settlements on Occupied Palestinian Territories are illegal Jewish civilian concentrations. They include more than 57 thousand housing units where more than 208,000 settlers live^[3]. Some sources estimate that the number of settlers in 2017 exceeded 542,000.^[4]

This section is dedicated to address settlement activity in Jerusalem–its practices and dangers.

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The city of Jerusalem is not located near any major river or water source nor does it experience much rain fall. .^[1] Because of this, from its early history, the city’s inhabitants stored water in wells and pools.

Therefew naturally occuring springs and wells around the city such as The Gihon Spring, The Well of Ayoub, The Red Pool, The Sultan’s Pool, and the Spring of Ein Karem.^[2]

This section is dedicated to addressing the water problem in Jerusalem as well as its sources and effects.

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The city of Jerusalem was established on the hill of Ophel, and it expanded later to include the mount of Bezita, the mount of Moria where the Aqsa mosque now stands, and the Mount of Zion. These four highlands together made up the old city of Jerusalem, which was surrounded by ancient walls that date back to the Middle Bronze age and believed to be built by Jerusalem’s original inhabitants; the Jebusites. In 1542, the Ottoman Sultan Suleiman The Magnificent built the wall that currently exists around Jerusalem and which became the geographical boundaries of the old city of Jerusalem.^[1]

This wall was built on the ruins of an ancient Roman wall that spanned 3662 meters and had a height of 11.6 to 12.2 meters.^[2] Thirty four watchtowers were also built throughout the wall to keep watch for invading enemies and alert the inhabitants about their approach. The current wall has eleven gates, seven of which are permanently open for public: the gate of the tribes (Al-Asbat), Herod’s Gate (Al-Sahirah), the Damascus Gate (Al-Amoud), the new gate (Al-Jadeed), the Hebron gate (Al-Khalil), the Moroccan Gate (Al-Magharibah), the Gate of the Prophet David (Al-Nabi Dawoud). The remaining four are locked.^[3]

The land in the Old City, which is estimated to be 900 acres, and includes ^[4] the wall of Al-Buraq, the Holy Church of Sepulchre, Al-Aqsa mosque and the Dome of the Rock, makes up 71% of the city’s total area . It consists of four main neighborhoods or quarters: the Islamic Quarter, the Christian Quarter, the Jewish Quarter, and the Armenian Quarter.^[5]

The Old City was occupied by Israel in 1967 after the Six Days War and annexed to the western part occupied since the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948. The city, since then, has suffered from number of problems. A 2010 residential consensus estimates that the city’s population density is 36.6 individuals per acre.^[6] The city has also been subject to the brutal Israeli policy of Judaization which not only changes names,features of , but also significantly alters the economic, social, and political structure of the city, sanctions excavations and tunnels beneath it, imposes excessive taxes and prevents its inhabitants from construction–all of which have led to a situation of economic stagnation, overcrowding, and high unemployment.^[7]

In 1981, UNESCO listed the Old City of Jerusalem on the World Heritage List. it was not until 1982 that the UN moved it to “the World Heritage at Risk” list although this move was preceded by the Israeli issuance of the 1980 Jerusalem Basic law which considers Jerusalem, complete and united, the capital of Israel. Security Council Resolution 478 of 1980 in which the council condemned the Israeli attempt to annex and control East Jerusalem and the Israeli Basic Law is null and void then considered by the international community to be the capital of the Palestinian State, was also issued in response to that law..

At the end of the nineteenth century and the beginning of the twentieth, the increase in population of Jerusalem among both Arabs and Jews necessitated an urban expansion that moved beyond the wall towards the south and the north west.This led to the emergence of the New expanded Jerusalem.^[8]

 

 

 

 

 

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What is Judaization?

Judaization is a policy through which the Israeli government aims to drive out any non-Jewish religious influences in Jerusalem in order to reinforce the Israeli claim to the area.

This policy includes the significant alteration or destruction of various landmarks that are holy, historical, or cultural in nature.^[1]

Judaization policy has been recognized by international community represented by the UN which usually refers to the policy either by its name as in the “International Conference on the Question of Jerusalem” organized regularly by UN Palestinian Rights Committee, a subsidiary organ of the UN General Assembly,^[2] or by the statement “changing the legal, physical, demographic and institutional status and characteristics of Jerusalem” which is entirely or partly used by the UN General Assembly and Security Council resolutions related to East Jerusalem.^[3] This extensive policy has included attempts to international support, issuing local laws, changing the city’s geography and demography, and presenting goals as a fait accompli and finally declare the city Israel’s Capital.^[4]

Judaizing Jerusalem’s population occurs through a systematic change in demographics by which Arab inhabitants are replaced with Israeli Jews and includes the following methods:

• Confiscation of Arab lands in the city. For example, the Israeli government confiscated more than 700 buildings and facilities in the old city of Jerusalem most of which belong to the Islamic endowment,^[5] especially the lands of absentee Palestinians.^[6]
• Expelling Palestinians from their neighborhoods and displacing them. More than 6 thousand Palestinian were expelled from the old city of Jerusalem to build the Jewish neighborhood there.^[7] on June 10th, 1967 just after the six day war, Israel demolished 130 Palestinian houses that formed what was known as the Moroccan Quarter in the old city of Jerusalem. the 700 year old neighborhood of Mughrabi was demolished to maintain a huge open area in front of the Buraq Wall, wailing wall according to Israelis, to make a center for the Jewish life in the old city.^[8]
• Narrowing the screws on Arab Jerusalemites and reducing employment opportunities to push them to emigrate.^[9] this comes as a result of a systematic discriminatory policy against Jerusalemite Palestinians who are merely considered residents of Jerusalem but not citizens of Palestine nor of Israel. This case of statelessness is depriving them from many rights including the economic ones and pushing them to flee Jerusalem to Ramallah or even abroad. ^[10]
• Building Jewish settlements in the city and around it. Hundreds of housing units were built in the old city for Israeli Jews along with houses of worship, public facilities, and commercial centers only for Jews, whereas Palestinians were forbidden to live or own houses in the original Jewish neighborhood in the old city.^[11] Settlements built on Arab lands such as Har Homa on Mount Abu Ghneim lands, Maali Adumim on Abu Dees lands, Zeev Pisgat on Hizma and Bait Hanina lands, Riches Shafat on Shua’fat lands strengthened the Jewish presence in the city at the expense of the Arab one.^[12]
• Isolating a number of the city’s neighborhoods, like Al-Ram, Abu Dees, Al-Aizareiah, from the city with the Israeli West Bank Barrier, known also as Apartheid wall or Wall of Separation, and considering them seperate areas whose inhabitants are forbidden from entering Jerusalem except under Israeli surveillance.,^[13]
• Revoking and denying the residency rights of Arab Jerusalemites: More than 14,595 Jerusalemite identity cards were revoked between the years 1967 and 2007 in Jerusalem.^[14]

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The Apartheid Wall, or the West Bank Barrier erected by Israel in Jerusalem aims to achieve the Greater Jerusalem according to a future Israeli vision.^[1] in 1967, Israel drew the municipale boundaries of Great Jerusalem which extended beyond the annexed lands of east Jerusalem to include all the surroundings of the city. The drawn boundaries had no practical implications until the wall was constructed around the city; now Jerusalem is totally isolated from the West Bank with a route that followed the 1967 drawn municipale boundaries.^[2] In 2017, the Israeli government introduced two bills to the Israeli knesset; a bill of “Jerusalem the Capital of Israel” in a 2nd amendment to the Israeli Basic Law and a “Greater Jerusalem” bill. both of the suggested bills include an alteration to Jerusalem’s borders to annex the surrounding settlements and displace around 140.000 Palestinians residents of Jerusalem living in surrounding neighborhoods already separated from Jerusalem by the wall.^[3]

Although the wall construction cuts off the West Bank and isolates it–Israeli law maintains the unification between the municipal boundaries of the city of Jerusalem as its capital. All subways between the West Bank and Jerusalem were closed and replaced by entry points under the supervision of the Israeli police, and a policy of tight restrictions continue to apply to Palestinians seeking entrance into the city.^[4]

In addition to depriving Palestinians from establishing their own country through parting the land and depriving the Palestinian authority from practicing its power and sovereignty over it, the wall has many negative effects on the daily life of palestinian citizens in the social, educational, medical, geographical, and political sense.in West Bank and East Jerusalem.^[5]

In 2002, the implementation of the plan to build the wall started. until now the wall is incomplete, 65.3 percent (465 km) is done,^[6] once complete it will cover 700 kilometers mostly^[7] in the West Bank, dividing neighborhoods, destroying homes, and isolating 20,000 Palestinians from their surroundings and communities.^[8] Under the pretext of security measures one of the most dangerous settlement plans began with a real intention to annex around 52,667.7 hectares of the land of the West Bank including those that were most fertile and rich in water other than the lands already annexed to the municipal boundaries of Jerusalem. ^[9]

The Shu’fat refugee camp and the town of Kafr Aqeb, which originally lie within the Jerusalem municipal boundaries, were isolated from Jerusalem leaving 140,000 Jerusalemites^[10] unable to enter except through entry points that include rigorously guarded checkpoints like the one at Qalandia.^[11] on the other hand, in three different areas of Jerusalem the wall extends beyond the drawn municipale boundaries annexing further lands and surrounding settlements and achieving the more land less Palestinians Jerusalem through an area of 202 kilometers of Jerusalem lands.^[12] This wall around Jerusalem sealed it completely and is currently known by “The Jerusalem Envelope”.^[13] Inhabitants of the arab villages and towns do not have access to areas on the other side of the wall like the settlers in East Jerusalem or Maaleh Adumim in the West Bank do.^[14]

Israel constructed the wall around Jerusalem with a stated goal of preventing violent attacks by Palestinians against Israelis; however, the following resulted from this construction:^[15]

• Isolating East Jerusalem from the West Bank in order to the establish Great Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.^[16]
• Displacing Jerusalem Arab population and deporting them elsewhere.
• Enclose Jerusalem’s arab population in small neighborhoods that are surrounded by settlements and are not viable for growth or development demographically, economically, socially or politically.
• Creating a Jewish majority in East Jerusalem by establishing settlements and constructing tourist and industrial areas to encourage the Jewish migration to the eastern part of the city.
• Maintaining the Israeli domination of the holy places and forbidding Arabs and Muslims from reaching them.
• Stopping the demographic growth of the Palestinians and restricting it to a specific area under control and surveillance.^[17]
• Expanding settlement activity in agricultural lands that are rich in water.^[18]
• Promoting the Jewishness of the state and isolating all that is not Jewish in a game of manipulating demographic balance. ^[19]

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Where was Jerusalem Originally Established?

Jerusalem was originally established high on Ophel Hill, a hill located on top of the mountain range in the middle chain of the Palestinian ranges.^[1]

Is Jerusalem Located on a Mountain?

Yes, Jerusalem is located on the Jerusalem mountain ridge which is part of the multiple Palestinian mountain ranges in it’s area. 

What was the Geography of the Original Site of Jerusalem Made Up of?

The original site of the city was made up of four mountainous regions surrounded by valleys.

What Mountains are Located in Jerusalem?

The Mount of Moria(Marwah) where Al-Haram Al-Sharif is, the Mount of Akra where the Church of the Holy Sepulcher is, the Mount of Bezita near the gate of Al-Saherah, and the Mount of Zion where the Mosque of David is.^[2]

What Valleys Surround Jerusalem?

The valleys surrounding include the Valley of Kidron to the east, the Valley of Hanom to the south and the Valley of Zubail to the west.^[3]

Where is Jerusalem Located Exactly?

Jerusalem is located on a latitude of 25.13 degrees north and 52.3 degrees east of Greenwich,^[4] and is 291 meters above sea level.^[5] It is twenty-two km from the Dead Sea, fifty-two Km from the Mediterranean Sea.^{[6] [7]}

Is Jerusalem Considered One of the Most Important Cities in the World?

Jerusalem is central not only to modern-day Palestine where it is surrounded by main cities like Jericho to the east, Lod and Ramla to the west, Ramallah to the north, and Bethlehem to the south^[8], but also to the ancient world. n ancient maps, like the 16th century German map, and writings ^[9] It is represented as a point of connection between different civilizations–particularly as it lies on the ancient road between the Levant and Egypt, on the cross roads between Nablus and Hebron, and on the land passage between Jericho and the Mediterranean.^[10] It is because of this centrality that Jerusalem was often targeted and invaded throughout its history and that whenever Jerusalem was captured, the rest of Palestinian Territories would to fall under occupation..^[11]

As a city, Jerusalem is relatively secure and habitable:^[12] Its high location gives it a natural preliminary defense against invaders and enemies.^[13] Moreover, the presence of a spring nearby helped humans inhabit the location early on.^[14]

What Made Jerusalem Such an Important City?

Jerusalem has no unique economic or topographic features that make it more important than ancient villages and towns like. It was not established by river or an important harbor. No great highway or cross roads are in the area, no major source of water, no mineral riches, and no remarkable trade routes.^[15] What gave Jerusalem its unique importance is its symbolic religious and spiritual value as a center for the three Abrahamic religions: Islam, Christianity, and Judaism.^[16] Jerusalem, the land of prophets and prophecies, was conquered several times throughout its history by different religious groups and others who recognized its importance. It was established by the Jebusites, a sub-group of the Arab Canaanites, and subsequently raided and ruled by Egyptians, Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, Greeks, Romans, Arab Muslims, Seljuks, Crusaders, Mamluks, Ottoman, British, and Israelis.^[17]

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