West Jerusalem

West Jerusalem

West Jerusalem is the part of Jerusalem that was under Israeli control after the 1948 Arab–Israeli War. At that time, the city was split by a line called the Green Line, which marked Israel's temporary border. West Jerusalem was separate from East Jerusalem, which was controlled by Jordan.

Since the 1967 Arab–Israeli War, Israel has controlled all of Jerusalem. However, the idea of West and East Jerusalem still helps people talk about the city's status. This status is important in discussions about the Arab–Israeli conflict and the Israeli–Palestinian conflict.

Even though Israel now controls the whole city, many countries still think of East Jerusalem as part of the area called the West Bank. Some believe that only West Jerusalem should be recognized as Israeli territory, but the whole city's status is still talked about in peace discussions.

History

Pre 1948: the Jewish Colony

The first Jewish settlements outside the old city were Mea Shearim and Yemin Moshe. In 1918, a plan was made to expand Jerusalem westward.

By the 1920s, Jewish families had built homes around the Downtown Triangle, near Jaffa Road, Ben Yehuda Street, and King George Street.

1948 Arab–Israeli War

Before the 1948 war, West Jerusalem had many wealthy Arab families. After the war, Jerusalem was split into two parts. The western part became part of Israel. The eastern part became part of Jordan.

Division in 1949

In 1949, the United Nations planned for Jerusalem to be a special international city, but Israel moved its government to West Jerusalem. Many Arabs had to leave their homes in areas like Katamon or Malha, and Jews in eastern areas also had to leave. Almost a third of the land in West Jerusalem had been owned by Palestinians before.

The only part of East Jerusalem that stayed with Israel was Mount Scopus, where the Hebrew University of Jerusalem is located. It was surrounded by areas controlled by Jordan and was not part of East Jerusalem.

Capital of Israel (1950)

In 1950, Israel chose West Jerusalem as its capital. The government built new offices and important buildings there. In 2017, the United States recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. Other countries like Russia, the Czech Republic, and Australia also recognized it at different times.

Capture of East Jerusalem (1967)

Main article: Israeli annexation of East Jerusalem

In 1967, during the Six-Day War, Israel took control of East Jerusalem and the West Bank. Over the years, many countries did not recognize this. In 1980, Israel made East Jerusalem part of its city, but many countries did not agree. Even today, people in East and West Jerusalem often live in their own separate areas.

Commercial hubs

West Jerusalem has many busy shopping areas. Important places to shop include the Downtown Triangle, Mamilla Mall, Emek Refaim, and the Mahane Yehuda Market. These places are popular for both locals and visitors to explore and shop.

Healthcare

One of the two Hadassah hospitals in Jerusalem is in West Jerusalem, in the area of Ein Karem. This hospital has a special synagogue with windows made by the artist Marc Chagall. These windows are called the Chagall Windows.

Leisure facilities

West Jerusalem has some fun places to visit. You can go to Teddy Stadium to watch sports, and there is Cinema City where you can watch movies.

Religious centres

West Jerusalem has important places of worship. Two well-known examples are the Jerusalem Great Synagogue and the Heichal Shlomo. These places are very meaningful to many people.

Mayors of West Jerusalem

Main article: Mayor of Jerusalem

Here is a list of the leaders who guided West Jerusalem from 1948 through today:

• Dov Yosef (military governor) (1948–1949)
• Daniel Auster (1949–1950)
• Zalman Shragai (1951–1952)
• Yitzhak Kariv (1952–1955)
• Gershon Agron (1955–1959)
• Mordechai Ish-Shalom (1959–1965)
• Teddy Kollek (1965–1993)
• Ehud Olmert (1993–2003)
• Uri Lupolianski (2003–2008)
• Nir Barkat (2008–2018)
• Moshe Lion (2018–present)