Jerusalem
Jerusalem is a city straddling the boundary between Israel and the West Bank. Prior to the 1967 War, Jerusalem was divided, with the Western half in Israel and the Eastern half in the West Bank. East Jerusalem was occupied by Israel during the 1967 war, and then in 1981 Israel declared the whole of Jerusalem to be its "eternal capital" and annexed East Jerusalem to Israel. This act however has not been recognized by the international community; therefore most countries have their diplomatic missions to Israel in Tel Aviv, not Jerusalem. The UN Security Council, in Resolution 478, declared the purported Israeli annexation of Jerusalem to be 'null and void and must be rescinded forthwith'. Israel has refused to comply with the Security Council resolution, even though UN Security Council resolutions are legally binding.
The Palestinians claim East Jerusalem as the capital of their future state. The United Nations proposed in its original plan for the partition of Palestine for Jerusalem to be a city under international administration, a proposal that is still made at times (among others, it is the proposal favoured by the Pope). Most negotiations regarding the future status of Jerusalem however have been based on partition; for example, one scheme put forward would have Israel keep the Jewish quarter and the Western Wall (the "Wailing Wall"), with the rest of the Old City and Al Aqsa being transferred to a new Palestinian state. Many Israelis (especially the Israeli right) are opposed to any division of Jerusalem on nationalist or religious grounds; among them is the current Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.
Jerusalem is a key city in religions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
History
Site of much conflict for several thousand years. Original object of conflict in
the Crusades.
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