East Jerusalem

Definition

East Jerusalem is a part of the city of Jerusalem that was captured by Israel during the Six-Day War in 1967 and has since been a focal point of Israeli-Palestinian conflict. This area includes significant religious and historical sites, making it a highly contested region, with implications for both regional dynamics and peace initiatives in the area.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. East Jerusalem contains holy sites for Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, including the Western Wall, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
2. Israel considers East Jerusalem as part of its indivisible capital, while Palestinians seek it as the capital of a future Palestinian state.
3. The status of East Jerusalem remains one of the most contentious issues in peace negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians.
4. Internationally, most countries do not recognize Israel's annexation of East Jerusalem and consider it occupied territory.
5. Numerous attempts at peace initiatives have addressed East Jerusalem's status, but a lasting solution has yet to be reached.

Review Questions

• How did the outcome of the Six-Day War impact the status of East Jerusalem and its significance in regional politics?
  • The Six-Day War in 1967 led to Israel's capture of East Jerusalem, which significantly changed its political status. Following the war, Israel expanded its control over the area and subsequently declared it part of its capital. This change intensified tensions with Palestinians who view East Jerusalem as their future capital. The war set the stage for ongoing disputes over sovereignty, territorial claims, and cultural identity, deeply influencing regional dynamics.
• Discuss how various peace initiatives have addressed the issue of East Jerusalem's status in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
  • Peace initiatives like the Oslo Accords and Camp David Summit have attempted to address East Jerusalem's contentious status. The Oslo Accords acknowledged that the city's final status would need to be negotiated between both parties. At Camp David, proposals were made to share sovereignty over holy sites but ultimately failed due to disagreements over territory and governance. These initiatives highlight how critical East Jerusalem is to any comprehensive peace agreement yet showcase the challenges in reaching a consensus.
• Evaluate the implications of East Jerusalem's status for future peace prospects in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
  • The status of East Jerusalem is crucial for future peace prospects as it symbolizes national identity for both Israelis and Palestinians. Continued Israeli settlement expansion and military presence complicate negotiations and exacerbate tensions. Any viable resolution will require innovative compromises on sovereignty and governance over this sensitive area. Without addressing these complexities, lasting peace remains elusive, as East Jerusalem continues to represent broader themes of rights, recognition, and territorial integrity.

Related terms

Six-Day War: A brief conflict in June 1967 between Israel and its neighboring states, resulting in Israel's capture of East Jerusalem, the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and other territories.

UN Resolution 242: A United Nations resolution passed after the Six-Day War calling for the withdrawal of Israeli armed forces from territories occupied in the conflict and the acknowledgment of all states' right to live in peace.

Two-State Solution: A proposed framework for resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that envisions an independent State of Palestine alongside the State of Israel, with borders based on pre-1967 lines.