The internationalism of Jerusalem
United Nations resolution 181 from November 1947 determines that the holy city of Jerusalem will become an international region held by the UN forces.
The Jordanian army captured Jerusalem during the Israeli independence war in late 1947 even before the UN forces got to Jerusalem . In 1967 the Israeli army got a hold of Jerusalem and ever since then Jerusalem has been a part of Israel. In 1980 the Israeli government passed a law declaring Jerusalem as the "eternal and indivisible" capital of Israel. The UN reaction to the "Jerusalem law" was a call for all the States that have established diplomatic missions in Jerusalem to withdraw such missions from the Holy City. As a result almost all of the diplomatic missions in Israel are located near Tel Aviv, and even today the UN doesn't recognize Jerusalem as the Israeli Capital.
Jerusalem is known as "The Holy City of Jerusalem" due to the fact it is holy to 3 major monotheistic religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. For thousands of years there have been "Holy Wars" to capture Jerusalem and other holy locations near by. Even the greatest emperies ruled over Jerusalem at one point in time.
Jerusalem has been and is extremely important to a vast variety of people and religions over the years.
Some helpful sites:
http://www.palestinefacts.org/pf_early_palestine_jerusalem.php
http://www.centuryone.com/hstjrslm.html
- Email either of us if you have any questions: u09dfoux@wbais.org or zohargo@gmail.com
