EAST JERUSALEM Meaning and
Definition
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East Jerusalem is a geographical area located in the eastern part of the city of Jerusalem, which serves as the capital of Israel. It is considered a disputed territory due to conflicting claims between Israel and the State of Palestine. East Jerusalem was captured by Israel during the Arab-Israeli War in 1967 and subsequently annexed, a move that is widely considered illegal under international law.
East Jerusalem is home to several important religious sites, including the Old City, which contains the Western Wall, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and the Al-Aqsa Mosque. Due to its rich historical, cultural, and religious significance, the area has remained a focal point of tension and conflict between Israeli and Palestinian communities.
Israel considers all of Jerusalem, including East Jerusalem, as its undivided capital, while the Palestinians envision East Jerusalem as the future capital of their independent state. The status of East Jerusalem remains a central issue in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and a key point of contention in any negotiations for a peaceful resolution.
The international community, including the United Nations, largely does not recognize Israel's sovereignty over East Jerusalem and considers it a part of the occupied Palestinian territories. Efforts to resolve the status of East Jerusalem often involve discussions of the establishment of a two-state solution, with mutually agreed-upon borders, to ensure lasting peace and stability in the region.
Etymology of EAST JERUSALEM
The term "East Jerusalem" does not have a specific etymology since its formation is based on a geopolitical division rather than a historical or linguistic origin.
After the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, Jerusalem was divided with West Jerusalem under Israeli control and East Jerusalem under Jordanian control. The term "East Jerusalem" emerged to distinguish the part of the city that was under Jordanian control. This division remained until the 1967 Six-Day War, when Israel captured and subsequently annexed East Jerusalem.
The naming simply refers to the eastern part of Jerusalem relative to the geopolitical context. The name itself does not have a distinct etymological history. However, it is worth noting that the term "Jerusalem" originates from the Hebrew "Yerushalayim" or "Yerushalem" and has deep historical and religious significance.
