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recognizes Tel Aviv as Israel's capital. [3] The international community argues that Israel's annexation of the eastern part of Jerusalem from Jordan during the Six Day War was in violation of international law, and that the final issue of the status of East Jerusalem should be determined in future Israeli-Palestinian negotiations. Therefore, although all ambassadors and other official diplomats submit their accreditation to the President of Israel in his house at Jerusalem, nearly all countries maintain their embassies in Tel Aviv, Israel's economic and financial centre

Palestinian claims

The Palestinian National Authority asserts that the capital of a future Palestinian state will be situated in Jerusalem. According to the Oslo Agreements the final status of Jerusalem should be determined by peaceful negotiation.

Physical geography

Jerusalem is situated in 31ƒ46?45?N, 35ƒ13?25?E, upon the southern spur of a plateau the eastern side of which slopes from 2,460 ft. above sea-level north of the Temple area to 2,130 ft. at the southeastern extremity. The western hill is about 2,500 ft. high and slopes southeast from the Judean plateau.

Topography

Jerusalem is surrounded upon all sides by valleys, of which those on the north are less pronounced than those on the other three sides. The principal two valleys start northwest of the present city. The first runs eastward with a slight southerly bend (the present Wadi al-Joz), then, deflecting directly south (formerly known as "Kidron Valley", the modern Wadi Sitti Maryam), divides the Mount of Olives from the city. The second runs directly south on the western side of the city, turns eastward at its southeastern extremity, then runs directly east, and joins the first valley near Bir Ayyub ("Job's Well"). It was called in olden times the "Valley of Hinnom", and is the modern Wadi al-Rababi, which is not to be identified with the first-mentioned valley. A third valley, commencing in the northwest where is now the Damascus Gate, ran south-southeasterly down to the Pool of Siloam, and divided the lower part into two hills (the lower and the upper cities of Josephus). This is probably the later Tyropoeon ("Cheese-makers'") valley. A fourth valley led from the western hill (near the present Jaffa Gate) over to the Temple area: it is represented in modern Jerusalem by David Street. A fifth cut the eastern hill into a northern and a southern part. Later Jerusalem was thus built upon four spurs. Today, neighboring towns are Bethlehem and Beit Jala at the southern city border, and Abu Dis to the East.

Climate and environment

People and culture

Demography

When it first appears in historical records, Jerusalem was inhabited by a Canaanite tribe. The Bible specifies them as the Jebusites, and says they ruled it until its conquest by King David. After taking control of the city from the Canaanites, Jews formed the majority of the population until Jerusalem's destruction by Rome in the second century. Subsequent demographic changes are uncertain, although the city's population probably attained a Muslim majority by the time of the Crusades. An official 16th century survey confirms that the city was largely Muslim. By 1844, Jews were the largest single ethnic group in the city and formed a majority by the late 19th century. According to the current official census as of 2003, Jerusalem's population was 693,200, of which 464,500 (67.0%) were Jews (38% of which live in East Jerusalem) and 228,700 (33.0%) were non-Jews (this number is for the expanded municipality of Jerusalem as claimed by Israel, which includes outlying Arab villages and neighbourhoods in East Jerusalem which were not part of Jordanian East Jerusalem prior to 1967).

Culture

Jerusalem houses many museums. The Israel Museum is one of the most famous. It includes a large collection of art and archaeological artifacts. In the "Shrine of the Book", it exhibits the Dead Sea Scrolls. The Rockefeller Museum is the city's specific museum for archeology. The Ticho House provides an art collections in a historical building. The Tower of David Museum is the main municipal museum, it includes models of the city and changing exhibits. Yad Vashem is the national holocaust museum and monument. The Islamic Museum in the Old City and Islamic Art Museum near the President's house both have collections of Islamic art, holy scripts and artifacts. The city has two professional orchestras, the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra-IBA and the Israel Camerata Jerusalem. In walking distance from the old city (southwest) is a cluster of cultural institutions. The Khan Theater is Jerusalem's only repertory theater. The Jerusalem Cinematheque is the venue in Jerusalem to watch non-commercial movies. It houses annually an international film festival and a Jewish film festival. In the Sultan Pool open air concerts are held, by Israeli artists and guests from abroad. The Jerusalem Music Center in Mishkanot Sheananim hosts chamber music concerts and workshops. The main cultural event of the year is the Israel Festival, with international and local street performances and repertory and alternative musicians and theater groups.

Economy

Heavy industry is discouraged in Jerusalem, while Tel Aviv remains Israel's financial capital, leaving Jerusalem's economy as mainly service-based. Almost half of Jerusalem's residents work in government, public service, or tourism, although there has been an increasing number of high-technology start-ups in the city, as well. The civilian labor force of Jerusalem was 183,000 (48.1%) out of 384,000 persons ages 15+. This is low in comparison to Tel Aviv and Haifa, 58.0% and 52.4% respectively. This reflects a higher percentage of one income households, especially among the Arab and Haredi populations. According to the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics, the average wage for a Jerusalem worker was NIS 5,568 in 2000. In Tel Aviv (as of 2000) the income was 17.8% higher in Haifa (also as of 2000) 14.1% higher. Income in Jerusalem was on average lower both for wage-earners and self-employed people. The population of Jerusalem is poorer in comparison to Israeli national figures. This is also often attributed to large Arab and Haredi population segments. In 1995 25% of the city population and 37% of its children lived below poverty level, as compared to 17% of all Israelis and 23% of Israeli children.

Transportation

Roads

Begin Boulevard is West Jerusalem's inner city expressway. It runs south to north from Manahat (Malcha) to Ramot, where it merges into the Modi'in-Tel Aviv highway. Other major north-south arteries include the Talpiot-Atarot route, which traverses the city center and roughly separates East and West Jerusalem, and Herzl Boulevard, which passes west of Begin boulevard; it begins at the northern entrance of the city and continues south via Mt. Herzl and Yad VaShem memorial. It then blends into additional routes that lead to the southwestern quarters. The Golomb-Herzog-Ben-Zvi route also links the southern quarters with the city center. Running east through the city center, Jaffa Road connects the Jaffa Gate of the Old City as well as East Jerusalem with the northwestern city entrance. Yigal Yadin Boulevard serves as a northern bypass of the city center, and links Ma'ale Adummim and the northeastern neighborhoods to Begin Boulevard near Ramot. A future ring-road would include Yadin and Begin boulevards as the respective north and west sectors Begin Boulevard is West Jerusalem's inner city expressway. It runs south to north from Manahat (Malcha) to Ramot, where it merges into the Modi'in-Tel Aviv highway. Other major north-south arteries include the Talpiot-Atarot route, which traverses the city center and

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