Jerusalem - The Capital of Israel

Population
936,425
Language
Hebrew
Continent
Asia
Since
1950
Eco Ranking
75/195

Source: Environmental Performance Index 2024.

About Jerusalem

Jerusalem's status as a capital is among the most contested political questions in the world. Israel designates Jerusalem as its capital and has housed its parliament (the Knesset), Supreme Court, and government ministries there since 1950. However, this designation is not recognized by the United Nations or the majority of countries, and most states historically maintained their embassies in Tel Aviv. The dispute centers on East Jerusalem, which Israel occupied during the 1967 Six-Day War and subsequently annexed, an annexation that has not been recognized under international law. East Jerusalem includes the Old City and sites of profound significance to Judaism, Islam, and Christianity. The international legal position, reflected in UN Security Council resolutions, is that the final status of Jerusalem must be determined through negotiation between Israelis and Palestinians, not unilateral action. In 2017, the United States recognized Jerusalem as Israel's capital under President Trump and relocated its embassy there from Tel Aviv in 2018, a move followed by a small number of other countries but rejected by most of the international community. Jerusalem is also claimed by Palestinians as the capital of a future Palestinian state, particularly East Jerusalem. The city remains the administrative seat of the Israeli government regardless of the ongoing international dispute over its status.

About Israel

Israel is a parliamentary democracy in the Middle East, governed by the Knesset, a 120-member unicameral parliament, and a prime minister who holds executive authority. It declared independence in 1948 following the end of the British Mandate for Palestine. Israel has fought multiple wars with neighboring Arab states and continues to govern or occupy Palestinian territories in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The question of Palestinian statehood and the final status of Jerusalem remain among the most disputed issues in international politics.

View Jerusalem on the map

View Jerusalem - The Capital of Israel on the map

Flight time from Jerusalem to other capitals

CityDistance (km)Flight Time
Abu Dhabi20002h 21m
Rome23002h 42m
Paris33003h 53m
London36004h 14m
Cape Town75008h 49m
Singapore79009h 18m
Tokyo910010h 42m
Washington, D.C.950011h 11m
Buenos Aires1220014h 21m
Canberra1400016h 28m

Capitals with similar population to Jerusalem

CityPopulation
Kathmandu1,003,285
Stockholm975,551
Asmara963,000
Vientiane948,477
Jerusalem936,425
Bangui889,231
Amsterdam873,555

Capitals with similar eco ranking to Jerusalem

CityEco Rank
Kingston73
Bandar Seri Begawan74
Belmopan75
Managua75
Jerusalem75
Victoria76
Astana77

Source: Environmental Performance Index 2024.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Why do most countries not recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital?

    Most countries do not recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital because of its disputed status under international law. UN Security Council resolutions hold that the final status of Jerusalem, including East Jerusalem, which Israel occupied in 1967 and annexed, must be determined through negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians, not through unilateral declarations.

  • When did Israel declare Jerusalem its capital?

    Israel declared Jerusalem its capital in 1950, two years after declaring independence. The Israeli parliament, the Knesset, moved to Jerusalem in 1950, and the government has operated from the city since that time, though international recognition of this designation remains limited.

  • Why do many countries keep their embassies in Tel Aviv?

    Because most countries do not recognize Israel's claim to Jerusalem as its undivided capital, they historically maintained embassies in Tel Aviv rather than Jerusalem. This position reflects the international consensus that Jerusalem's final status must be resolved through a peace process.

  • What did the US do regarding Jerusalem in 2017?

    In December 2017, President Donald Trump announced US recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital, a break from decades of US policy. The US Embassy was relocated from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem in May 2018. The move was condemned by Palestinian leadership and most of the international community, though a small number of countries followed suit.

  • What is East Jerusalem and why is it significant?

    East Jerusalem was under Jordanian control from 1948 to 1967, when Israel captured and subsequently annexed it. It contains the Old City, including the Temple Mount/Haram al-Sharif, the Western Wall, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and the Al-Aqsa Mosque, sites central to Judaism, Islam, and Christianity. Palestinians claim East Jerusalem as the capital of a future Palestinian state.

Sights and landmarks

Jerusalem holds an unparalleled concentration of holy sites for three world religions. The Old City, surrounded by Ottoman walls, is divided into four quarters: Jewish, Muslim, Christian and Armenian. The Western Wall (Wailing Wall), the holiest accessible place of prayer in Judaism, is the sole surviving wall of the Second Temple complex. The Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock, recognisable by its golden dome on the Temple Mount, are among the holiest sites in Islam. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre in the Christian Quarter marks the traditional locations of the crucifixion, burial and resurrection of Jesus. The Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial in West Jerusalem is Israel's central Holocaust memorial.

Regional significance

Jerusalem represents the focal point of one of the world's most protracted geopolitical conflicts. The two-state solution, envisaging a future Palestinian state alongside Israel with East Jerusalem as the Palestinian capital, remains the international reference framework but is considered increasingly difficult to implement. The Temple Mount/Haram al-Sharif, managed by a Jordanian-Palestinian religious authority despite Israeli security oversight, is a permanent source of tension. The city's status directly affects Israel's relations with its Arab neighbours, the Gulf states that signed the Abraham Accords, and the European Union, which does not recognise the annexation of East Jerusalem.

Culture and customs

Jerusalem has a cultural and religious significance that far exceeds its modest physical size. The city attracts millions of pilgrims each year from Jewish, Christian and Muslim faiths. The Jewish Shabbat from Friday evening to Saturday evening transforms the character of the western part of the city: restaurants close, public transport stops and the city slows down. In the Muslim quarters the adhan sounds five times daily. The city houses institutions such as the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, founded in 1925, and the Israel Museum, which holds the Dead Sea Scrolls. Culinarily, Middle Eastern traditions intertwine: hummus, falafel, shakshuka and Ashkenazi Jewish cuisine coexist.
Jerusalem, capital of Israel
Jerusalem, capital of Israel

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