Jerusalem: Going for the Gold

The mantra of the current Israeli government that Jerusalem is “the eternal, undivided capital of the Jewish people” does nothing to resolve the stalemate over the city’s status. Nor does saying these words make Jerusalem truly undivided. The truth is that the city is divided both socially and culturally between west and east. And, as important, it is plagued by problems like poverty and sectarian division both within the Jewish community itself and on the Palestinian side—problems largely ignored because of the city’s uncertain status.

Any move toward a two-state solution requires Jews in the United States and Israel to acknowledge that when they speak of Jerusalem they are referring to an idealized religious city.