Population
966.000

Area
126 Km² (49 mi²)

Jerusalem, is an ancient oriental city of significance to the religions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

With a population of nearly 1.000.000 souls today, it is a richly heterogeneous city, representing a range of national, religious, and socio-economic groups. The section called the "old city" is surrounded by walls and equally populated by Jews, Christians, Armenians, and Muslims.

The status of the city is vigorously contested. The border, erected in 1949 against a ceasefire between Israel and the West Bank, also known as the green line, cuts through the city. After Israel's victory in the Six-Day War in 1967, Israel controls the entire city and claims its sovereignty. According to Israeli law, Jerusalem is the capital of the state of Israel, and serves as the center for all government activities and other state functions as the capital. Most countries do not recognize Israeli sovereignty over part or all of the city, thereby maintaining their embassies in Tel Aviv or its suburbs. The Palestinians claim all or part of Jerusalem as the capital for a future Palestinian state.

The origin of the city's name is uncertain. A common theory is that it combines the names of two biblical cities that may have been Jerusalem: Jebus (named after the founder of the Jebusites) and Salem (the name used in Genesis 14:18 see Ramban's commentary for explanation). It is also possible to translate Jerusalem as "base of Salem" or "base of peace". It is also considered by some as the city of David and Zion.

Economy

The economy of Jerusalem is centered on tourism and public enterprises, but factories also exist. Among the main productions of Jerusalem: shoe factories, textiles, pharmaceuticals, metal products, and printed articles. The factories are mainly located in the Atarot industrial zone to the north of Jerusalem, along the Ramallah road. The main roads leaving Jerusalem go towards Amman in Jordan to the east, Ramallah and Nablus to the north, Beersheba, Bethlehem, and Hebron to the south. A train line and a highway link Jerusalem to Tel Yafo Yafo to the west. The Atarot Airport (called Kalandia by the Arabs), a small international airport, is located at the far north of Jerusalem.