East Jerusalem

Imagine a city with a very old heart! East Jerusalem is like a special part of the big city of Jerusalem. It's in the country of Israel, but it's also a place that many people think should be its own country's capital. It's a place where history whispers from every stone, and people from different backgrounds live side-by-side. It's a place filled with amazing sights and sounds.

A long, long time ago, after a big war, East Jerusalem became part of the country of Jordan. But later, in another war in 1967, Israel took control of it. Now, many countries think it's a special area that should belong to the Palestinians. It's a bit like a puzzle piece that many people want to place in different spots! This part of the city holds many ancient stories.

East Jerusalem is super famous because it has the Old City! Inside the Old City are places that are very, very important to three big religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Think of places like the Western Wall, the Dome of the Rock, and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. These are like the most special treasures in the city, visited by people from all over the world.

Lots of people call East Jerusalem home! In 2020, almost 600,000 people lived there. That's more people than can fit in a giant stadium! Many of them are Palestinian Arabs, but there are also Jewish Israelis living there. People in East Jerusalem speak different languages and have different traditions, making it a colorful place.