30 October 2014
There are increasing tensions between Israelis and Palestinians in Jerusalem, the fate of which is one of the most contentious issues in the Israel-Arab conflict.
The BBC’s Erica Chernofsky takes a closer look at why this city is so important to Christianity, Islam and Judaism, the three religions which trace their shared origins back to the biblical figure of Abraham.
Jerusalem – its name resonates in the hearts of Christians, Jews and Muslims alike and echoes through centuries of shared and disputed history.
Known in Hebrew as Yerushalayim and in Arabic as al-Quds, it is one of the oldest cities in the world. It has been conquered, destroyed and rebuilt time and again, and every layer of its earth reveals a different piece of the past.
While it has often been the focus of stories of division and conflict among people of different religions, they are united in their reverence for this holy ground.
At its core is the Old City, a maze of narrow alleyways and historic architecture that characterises its four quarters – Christian, Muslim, Jewish and Armenian. It is surrounded by a fortress-like stone wall and home to some of the holiest sites in the world.
Read more at http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-26934435
