Jerusalem and Palestine visit

West Jerusalem

Just outside the wall of the Old city, 

We are having Breakfast and afterwards, we go to explore the old city.

Jerusalem is divided into East and West Part

Western Part is mainly Jewish area 

and Eastern Part is an Arab area. The road used to be border before the war of 1967. East Jerusalem was part of Jordan. That metro line was an actual border 

and on the building behind the line 

there are still some bullets holes from Jordan and Israelian war.

Old Jerusalem is very small,  only 1 Sq. Km. I

t is divided into 4 quarters Armenians are also Christians. They have a separate quarter and churches. Muslim Quarter is the biggest and then Jews quarter. The old city has 8 gates, 7 Gates are opened and every Quarter has a one or two gates. The Gate in front of Jaffa St. is Jaffa Gate, all gates are opened except Golden gate, which according to Muslims belief Imam Mehdi will enter Jerusalem through this gate and it will stay closed until then. 

Right next to Jaffa Gate is Armenian Quarter 

and after that is Jewish Quarter. 

The name of the road changes to Omar Ibn Khitab, 

These buildings are part of Armenian Quarter. 

The wall around the old city 

was built by the Ottomans, not only the wall but all the main development of the city happened in that era. They also built a railway between Jaffa and Jerusalem and they stopped it before the old city to protect the Old city.  Now a little introduction of  Jewish Quarter, a lot of renovation work has been done here, very beautiful small streets.

The single Holy Place for Muslims but an equally holy place for Jews, Muslims call it Haram Al-Sharif. It was the first Kaaba of Muslims for 13 years and it is the place of the first and second  Jewish Temple. First Temple was built by Prophet Suleman, which was destroyed by the Babylonians and 2nd Temple was built by Jewish King Herod the Great which was destroyed by the Romans and they also expelled Jews from the city.

Jews were allowed only once a year to visit the City 

then the Muslim History starts.

The Al Aqsa compound, 

this is Western Wall, where Jews Pray,  this Dome is called Dome of Rock.

This is 

Al Aqsa Mosque, a lot of people think Golden Dome is Al Aqsa Mosque and the mountain behind Al Aqsa Mosque is called Mount Olive , place of Jewish cemetery is there and the Minaret is actually Church, and from where Jesus travelled to Heaven.  So now let's go to the Muslim Quarter.

 Dome of Rock

Here the history starts after the arrival of Muslims, as this isn't important place for Christians

when Omar Ibn Khitab arrived in the city, he allowed the Jews back into City and He consulted a Jewish Rabi to tell him the place of first Jewish Temple. The Rabi who later converted. This is also the same place from where Prophet Muhammad ascended to Heaven on Nights Journey and according to Jewish believe also the same place where Prophet Ibrahim brought his son Isaac to sacrifice. 

Jews and Muslims cleaned the place 

and Omar Ibn Khitab planned to build a Dome but it was built in the Umayyad Caliphate by Abd al-Malik.

Non-Muslims are not allowed to enter here, 

only outside during specific hours. There is still the Rock which is the foundation. There is the basement inside the Dome of Rock, this is so holy that Jews can't enter even when they had control of this area, only their Rabi would come here once a year o

n Jewish Holiest day 'Yom Kippur' 

only on that day and only Rabi not anyone else.

The Western Wall where Jews prayer 

is only 30 meters away from here,  one small 

    Dome, the small is the actual Model which Non-Muslims can visit, This whole area because

was under Jordan, 

when Jordan lost the war, Israel took over the control but now Israel controls the outside security but Islamic society Waqf holds the keys of the gates and controls the area inside

This Dome is actual Gold (200kg) gifted by 

Jordanian King

before that, there were Bronz and copper colours

Umayyad Caliphate not only built this Dome but 

also built 

Al Aqsa Mosque in front of it

Now it might be closed 

visitors are allowed during 7-10am. 

There is Omar Mosque, 

This Minbar is made by Saladin, 

The Old Al Aqsa Mosque is in the Basement , 

in front of every Gate is a Bazar, this is very beautiful Bazar.

The Muslim Quarter, 

because this area was under Jordan so Arabs still hold Jordanian Passports

and they prefer to do it instead of taking Israelian.

Damascus Gate (Muslim Quarter) 

 there Police check posts here. There nothing Police check posts in other Quarters, only in Muslims Quarter.

This path goes to Church of Holy Sepulchre, 

here Jesus was crucified and contains an empty tomb of Prophet, Christian Pilgrims walk on the path where Jesus walked, this is Christians Quarter. 

It is not under control of any Particuler section of 

Christianity, They all have a particular area for their prayer, when Omar ibn Khitab took over the city and visited the Church, the priest offered him to pray inside but He refused thinking that in future, Muslims might turn it into a Mosque, so he prayed in front of this place there. On the same place is now Omar Mosque.

Western Wall area, t

he only place in Temple Mount where Jews pray near the wall, there is a small room inside visitors go there as well by wearing Kippa.

Shabat , 

Jews refrain from doing a lot of things. During Shabat all the restaurants will be closed in the Jewish area.

Mount Olive, the holy place for Jews and Christians. The Jewish cemetery is 3000 years old 

and have over 150,000 graves. 

 Jesus used to live here (place of Last supper) when Jesus was crucified , he was arrested here and when He saw the city was burned down. He cried for the city of Jerusalem and its people. Jesus ascended to heaven from here Church of Ascension.

Jaffa Street which is only for Pedestrian, 

which is very lively especially during the night similarly to the Arab Quarter.

 Machneyuda, 

which is one of the oldest Market, you can get alcohol there but not in Arab Bazar.