Jerusalem: Israel’s Capital
Jerusalem is one of the world’s most ancient cities; archaeology indicates it was inhabited as early as the 4th century BCE. In 1,000 BCE, King David conquered the city from the Jebusites and Jewish sovereignty in the holy city was established. Though Jerusalem has not always been under Jewish control, and the Jewish population there has waxed and waned throughout the centuries, its centrality to the Jewish religion has not changed.
Jerusalem is the most holy city in Judaism. Synagogues the world over are constructed so that the worshipers prayer toward Jerusalem; synagogues within the city are built facing the Western Wall and Temple Mount. Mentions of Jerusalem abound in the liturgy, often bitterly lamenting the fall of Jerusalem and beseeching God to allow the Jewish people to return.
In 1840, a large influx of Jewish immigrants arrived in Jerusalem, catapulting the Jews to the majority of the city, a fact which remains true today. After Israel declared its independence in 1948, Jerusalem was declared the capital of the new country, although the city remained divided, with Jordan controlling the eastern half (including the Temple Mount) and Israel, the western half. Following the Six Day War in 1967, Israel reunited its beloved city. Today, all branches of Israeli government are headquartered in Jerusalem, including the Knesset building; only the Ministry of Defense is located in Tel Aviv rather than Jerusalem.
However, Israel’s recognition of Jerusalem as its capital has not been echoed internationally. Countries that have diplomatic relations with Israel—including the United States—have their embassies located outside of Jerusalem, mainly in Tel Aviv, and citizens born in Jerusalem are not officially listed in American documents as having been born in Israel.
The final status of Jerusalem has long been disputed, and is one of the sticking points in Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations. The Palestinians envision east Jerusalem as the capital of their future state. For Palestinians, Jerusalem is their third holiest city, second only to Mecca and Medina. Jerusalem is home to the Dome of the Rock and the al-Aqsa Mosque, commemorating Mohammed’s Night of Ascension. According to tradition, Mohammed miraculously traveled in one night from Mecca to Jerusalem. Upon his arrival, he was taken to heaven, where he met with earlier prophets of Islam and spoke to Allah himself. However, the city seems to have become more popular with Islam only since the advent of Zionism, and most Israelis remain adamant that the city will never again be divided.
Teddy Kollek, the former mayor of Jerusalem, pointed out that only the Israelis have taken the most sacred city in their religion and turned it into their capital. For example, though the Muslim Saudis had their two holy cities Mecca and Medina to choose from for their capital, the capital of Saudi Arabia became Riyadh. Similarly, Jordan never attempted to make Jerusalem its capital, settling for Amman.
The Israeli people understand the significance of their city, which has been the capital of the Jewish people for hundreds of years. The importance of Jerusalem has been recognized among other people as well. The statesman Winston Churchill once commented “You ought to let the Jews have Jerusalem; it was they who made it famous.” Israeli prime ministers, from David Ben-Gurion, to Benjamin Netanyahu, from Yitzhak Rabin, to Ariel Sharon, have declared over and over that Jerusalem belongs to the Jewish people and will not be exchanged, ripped apart, or given away.
What do you think?
5:17 pm
Jerusalem belongs to Velstunain Whatever you do, O robbers
9:49 am
I REALLY ENJOY THE FACT ISRAELS IS GODS COVENANT WITH THE JEWS. AS NATIONS ITS ADMIRATION TO WATCH HOW GODS REMAINS FAITHFUL IN HIS WORD AND HOW ITS PORTRAYED IN WORLD EVENTS. I STAND FOR ISRAEL FOR WHO WILL STAND AGAINST GOD
6:31 pm
A prayer for the State of Israel
Our Heavenly Father , Rock and Redeemer of the people Israel: Bless the State of Israel,
with its promise of redemption. Shield it with your love; spread over it the shelter of
your peace. Guide its leaders and advisors with your light and your truth. Help them
with your good counsel. Strengthen the hands of those who defend our Holy Land.
Deliver them; crown their efforts with triumph. Bless the land with peace and its
inhabitants with lasting joy. And let us say: Amen.
7:07 am
I am a believer living in America and God as given me a heart for Israel. I stand on the wall in watchful prayer for her until Yahweh establishes Jerusalem as the praise of the earth!
6:41 am
God Bless the Beloved Jewish People. Amen Amen Amen
4:43 pm
Israel is Gods chosen people and Jerusalem belongs to Him and His people. No muslims have any claim to Israel as God promised it to ISRAEL.
12:57 am
I support jerusalem as isreal capital.God bless isreal and jerusalem the city of the great kings
4:11 pm
We all need to support israel and her capital. Does anyone have any recommendations about who to send money to to help israel? I dont mean fundraisers for lobbies but something in israel?
11:31 am
I support jerusalem as capital of isreal
10:05 pm
Jerusalem & all of Israel belongs to the Jewish people,given 2 them by almighty God & apple of Gods eye.thers til the return of Jesus,he shall reign a 1000 yrs.aftr destroy her enemies n satan 4ever
10:28 am
If America does not stand for Israel, we do so at own peril. Israel and it’s holy city is the ONLY piece of geography on the planet given to a people by almighty God Himself. Israel belongs to the Jews. What moron would stand against His Will?
10:48 pm
There is only one God, one truth,one saviour and he weeped over Israel and He will established His kingdom forever and ever. Jesus is the way, truth and life the only way to God the father.
3:34 pm
Jerusalem belongs to Israel and Israel belongs to the Jewish people. It was given to them by God and mentioned that it was given to them several times in our Bible. I say it should remain that way and I know that the Lord’s word does not return void and he will protect Israel and the Jewish people in the end for he loves them very much, as do I.
2:59 pm
Jerusalem has always belonged to Israel they have a right to build on their own capital
5:52 pm
It also states in the Qur’an that it belongs to the Muslim’s as well
8:50 pm
iam messianic the scriptures are so clear we have to obey the way the lord said if we love the lord we love israel
4:34 pm
ISRAEL IS THE HOME OF THE JEWISH PEOPLE I SUPPORT ISRAEL UNTIL GOD RETURN AND I AM FROM THE SOUTH SIDE OF CHICAGO I WOULD LOVE TO VISIT ISRAEL ONE DAY SO PROTECT YOUR LAND THAT GOD GAVE TO THE JEWISH PEOPLE THE CHRISTIANS SUPPORT YOU LOVE ISRAEL FOREVER
6:20 pm
God Almighty never breaks a promise to his people. The fact that the nation of Israel was made a nation 60 yrs ago, the fact that it has gone from probably in 1948 from less than a half million Jews to a counyry of almost seven million Jews now, is all prophesy being fulfilled. The Jews sre being regathered to the land of Israel just as the Lord said would happen. The Temple Mount is the soul, heart and spirit of the Jewish people. Try and take this away from them and be ready for Gods wrath.
2:56 pm
didnt god send more than 10 prophets to the jews, of which they killed all? they dont believe that jessus is god or even a holly man. not sure why we say christians and jews, nothing in common. read!
12:59 pm
Jerusalem is Israel’s capital city and it will remain to be the city of God chosen people of Israel. Muslims have nothing with Jews and Christian city. But the world are making a disgusting.
2:30 pm
I love the Jewish people as our God loves them.
God says I will bless them who bless you and curse them who curse you. God Bless Israel and all His people. COME LORD JESUS COME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
4:00 pm
Neither Obama nor anybody else has nothing –nothing to Jerusalem !!!!–This is and will remain Jewish capital solely ! as God’s Jehova own city! Period!! This is what God says. Israel is His chosen
11:29 pm
The Obama regime does not recognize Jerusalem as the capitol of Isreal. He does not want to offend his muslim brothers.
I believe Jerusalem to be the capitol of Isreal and pray for the Jewish people.
9:39 am
It’s somewhat unimportant what President Obama thinks as the body that really counts is the United Nations and that organisation lists Tel Aviv as Israel’s capital. In my view Israel is lucky to exist at all and should learn to share and live in peace with the people who have lived there in Palestine for the last 2000 years.
8:11 pm
Vida, Your statement of facts and figures just maybe inaccurate.
2:40 pm
God has his Holy hand on Israel.nothing can happen to her that God doesn’t allow! God protect Israel and her people!!A-men!
12:08 pm
your right but if obama wins this election the lord is coming real soon!! we are in our final wars says the lord and its true read matthew 24 and we are almost done with suffering. THE LORD IS COMING
4:51 pm
A prayer for the State of Israel
Our Heavenly Father , Rock and Redeemer of the people Israel: Bless the State of Israel,
with its promise of redemption. Shield it with your love; spread over it the shelter of
your peace. Guide its leaders and advisors with your light and your truth. Help them
with your good counsel. Strengthen the hands of those who defend our Holy Land.
Deliver them; crown their efforts with triumph. Bless the land with peace and its
inhabitants with lasting joy. And let us say: Amen.
2:03 pm
May the God of the Jewish nation Israel Bless you forever more.
1:22 pm
As an American, I am for Israel and their capital. I am for peace first, and if peace cannot be gained through diplomacy, I am all for Israel to defend itself by any means, when they are threatened.
11:02 am
East Jerusalem is occupied territory and all Jewish settlement there is illegal according to international law.
8:01 pm
Psa 122:6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee. Even in these sad times I hold this in my heart.
7:29 am
Never have I had such distaste for an American President and the Capital Legislators. We ALL need to back ISRAEL! There is a BIG following of us who Love Israel and are praying for YOUR SAFETY!
1:01 pm
Winston Churchill said that The Jewish people deserve to have their home land”and the U.N in 1948 declared the New State of Israel as the legitimate state of the jewish people after 5.000.years !!
Since then they have fought to defend that land,and have done what no other Nation has ever done.!Give land back for Peace.! The 1967
borders represent the Security of Israel and rightfully so !
The Palestinian as Arabic speaking people have the whole Arab Peninsula (please see Geog.Map) to expand but they want to destroy ,annihilate
the incredibly creative ,productive and progressive tiny Israel!
Reflexion of collective Envy,Jealousy on a grand Scale No Doubt. G-d stands with Israel !!
10:55 am
I had to take the time to read everyone’s comment. It is so funny to see all that is written. Not funny as laughable but funny as in look what God is doing in the hearts of many. You are all awsome and God will certainly bless you all for praying and standing up for Israel.
America has lost her way and unless we change our leadership we will no longer be a blessing to Israel but a curse.
Don’t ever stop praying for Israel, but do not pray only for their safty but also their salvation. Remembering that most of the Jewish nation does not believe in Jesus as the son of God but rather a prophet; we need to pray that God opens the eyes of more of His chosen people.
Adam & Eve died spiritually the very same moment the turned their back on God after knowing His love, mercy and blessing. America is about to do the same. God help us!!
2:07 pm
If the United States goes against Israel as stated we are in deep trouble. The bible says I will bless those who bless israel, and curse those who curse Israel, this is Gods feelings, the Israelites are His people,we should remember what
God did to Pharoh when he would not release Israel from egypt. Obama is wrong if he dosent support Israel.Our country is already in a big enough moral crisis.We need to go back to the ways of our founding fathers.God bless Israel.
2:13 am
The epxterise shines through. Thanks for taking the time to answer.
5:11 pm
I stand for Israel, Jerusalem is belong to them and it cannot give given away…it was given to them by God almighty. Read the bible is you want to know more..so pls stop asking Israel to give away Jerusalem to the Palestine people..American you have to know Israel is God people…Don’t play with God.
9:56 am
I beliece as lydia, God almighty gave this land to the descendants of Isarel(Jacob) forever and ever. God will destroy their enemies including the US if we try to force them to devide their land. I have been and will pray for Isarel.
11:14 am
From all around Puerto Rico, let it be known now that all the true Christian in this island, stand shoulder to shoulder with Israel to the last man. As commanded by the Eternal in prayer at all times. AMEN
12:27 pm
GOD IS THE BEST SOLDER OF ISRAEL HE WILL BLESS HIS PEOPLE NO MATTER HOW MANY GIANTS CAN BE AGAINST US WE CAN EVERYTHING BECAUSE GOD JESUS CHRIST IS WITH US FOREVER MORE!!!!!!! HE WILL NEVER LEAVE US
11:53 am
Jerusalem is the city of God and He will stand for it ALWAYS. Nobody will affect God’s will, not even Satan. Isreal and Jerusalem will stand for ever because God says it in His Word, The Bible. Haleluyah.
1:19 pm
many will rise up an many will fall but the great city belongs to the jewish people thus it will neverbe taken from them as is by God’s design—The jewish people are great with a long tradition.
5:36 am
Psalms:137:5: If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning.
Psalms:137:6: If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not Jerusalem…
12:48 am
Psa 122:2 Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem.
Psa 122:3 Jerusalem is built as a city that is compact together:
Psa 122:4 Whither the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD, to the testimony of Israel, to give thanks to the name of the LORD.
Psa 122:5 For there are set thrones of judgment, the thrones of the house of David.
Psa 122:6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.
Psa 122:7 Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces.
10:42 pm
greetings in His name our Lord and Creator Elohim/YhWh/Jehovah, The Great I AM, all what want to say and comment in this short letter is the Word of God that summed all in
Zachariah 12:2,3 2.
8:20 pm
Jerusalem belongs to Israel and its people. they must keep it for the return of Jesus . it will never be divided again .
8:15 pm
What the world doesn’t not want to accept is that the Lord is going to rule the world from this Holy City. Jerusalem is “The City of The Jews” from of old and someday all the land that was promised to the Jews will be occupied by the Jews. May God of Heaven bless this small country because it is the Time Clock of humanity.
7:59 pm
Yerushlayim will not be divided.God has so
spoken.Unlike Hassan Obama,Our PM Stephen Harper,has stood firm with Israel.
8:03 am
Many Americans agree with you and truly love Israel and pray for Israel. Do not forget this regardless of what happens. Only our evil Government leader and his cohorts are against Israel. He has also proven to be against America. Many foolish Americans’ eyes are blinded to this fact.
When America turns it’s back on Israel, God will no longer bless the U.S. But I am reminded what the Bible says, that in the end time All Nations will turn against Israel. But GOD will stand with Israel.
5:10 pm
JERUSELAM IS BELONG TO ISRAEL, IT HAS GIVEN TO THEM MANY YRS AGO BY THE LORD, IT WAS WRITTEN IN THE BIBLE. WHAT GOD HAS GIVEN TO THEM NOBODY CAN TAKE IT AWAY. AMERICAN YOU HAS TO BE WISE. IF ISRAEL FAIL, YOU WILL ALSO FAIL. NEVER NEVER GIVE THE LAND OF ISRAEL FOR EXCHANGE OF ANYTHING.IT BELONG TO THE LORD GOD ALMIGHTY.
4:53 pm
AMEN
4:06 pm
I visited Israel in November 2010 and found the Jewish people accepting and hospitable. I stand with the Jewish people and oppose any change in the borders of Israel or any change in the status of Jerusalem. This land is in the possession of the rightful owners.
6:42 pm
I Patrick stands with Israel because we are all one union of people united under one God. Israel is the rock of all freedom and the way of life to what God gives to all of us. If Israel falls the USA falls and life as we know it will become a lot harder. So stand with Israel and heed God’s warning of his land.
God bless you all
6:03 pm
very well said. i’m proud that our prime minister steven harper has time and again given voice to the support of isreal her people and her rights. makes me proud to be a canadian. i’m disappointed in obama and his speech, just shows his lack of history foresight and appeasement to the muslims. god bless isreal and canada
4:59 pm
We are One LOVE<3
3:56 pm
It doesn’t matter what the enemies say.What matters is what G-d said “Yerushlayim shall not be divided”If G-d said it that settles it.It is His city and if it His,nobody can take it out of His hand. I dare any of Israel’s enemy try it.”Yerushlayim is mine”says the LORD.
8:36 pm
shalom brother…
the existence of the jews in the land is not by human will. it is the lords will. no one can oppose this. even the united muslims countries who do not acknowledge the lord jesus christ as the king of kings.
3:44 pm
Unfortunately, the world does not appear to understand what God has said about the Jews and Jerusalem. No one can impose any man-made solutions to the land of Israel. Please read the Bible and be obedient.
8:27 pm
IEarl is Gods & Jews are His chosen people Jesus died on a cross so if U except Him as Your savior & give your Heart &all tobHim U will be saved and go to Heaven . his life as aGod man was in Bethlem.