Jerusalem’s Modern History

The modern historical record proves the importance of keeping Jerusalem united under Israeli sovereignty.

1948-1967: The Dark Period

rabbi_dark_period_1948An invasion of Arab armies during the 1948 War of Independence caused Jerusalem to be artificially divided between an Israeli-controlled western section, and a Jordanian-controlled eastern section.

During this dark period, Arab control of the Old City and eastern sections of Jerusalem caused severe hardships and persecution for both Jews and Christians: From 1948 to 1967, Jordan denied the Jewish people access to its sacred Western Wall (in violation of its Armistice Agreement with Israel), over fifty synagogues in the Old City’s Jewish Quarter were destroyed or desecrated, and the Old City’s Jewish residents were expelled.

Moreover, the Christian population of Jordanian Jerusalem fell from 25,000 to 11,000, as highly restrictive Jordanian laws were imposed on Christian institutions.

1967-Present: Freedom for All

2012_jerusalemIn the wake of the 1967 Six Day War, Jerusalem was reunified under Israeli sovereignty.

Since then, Christians, Muslims and Jews have all been granted full religious and cultural freedom in the holy city, and Arabs living within Jerusalem’s municipal boundaries are offered Israeli citizenship.

Israel has upheld its moral and ethical obligations to the people of the world and has earned the right to retain sovereignty over all of Jerusalem, according to the present boundaries. Israel’s decision, as a free and democratic nation, to designate a united and undivided Jerusalem as its capital, should be respected and recognized by the entire international community.

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