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Jerusalem Day commemorates the reunification of Jerusalem, the capital of Israel, following the division of the city between 1948 and 1967. For three millennia Jerusalem has been the heart of the Jewish people and the everlasting center of Jewish belief and identity. Throughout the years the city was under the rule of many nations, including the Assyrians, Persians and Romans. More recently, the Ottoman Turks ruled Jerusalem until December 1917, when it came under the control of the British. |
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| On November 29, 1947, the United Nations decided that the Land of Israel would be divided into two separate countries - one Jewish and one Arab. Jerusalem would belong to neither, holding special standing under the auspices of the U.N. | |||
| The British mandate ended on May 15, 1948, at which time 7 Arab states declared war on the newly created Jewish State. The cease-fire ending Israel's War of Independence left Jerusalem a divided city, with Jordan retaining control of the eastern portion encompassing the Old City and the Western Wall and Israel retaining the western side. The resulting border was 7 kilometers long from north to south, dividing neighborhoods and even private property. A concrete wall was erected on the Israeli side against snipers. | |||
| The
Six Day War began on June 5, 1967. On June 7, (the 28th of the month of
Iyar according to the Hebrew calendar) Israeli forces broke through the
Lions' Gate to the Old City. On June 28, the Government of Israel proclaimed
the Reunification of Jerusalem, the Capital of Israel. |
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Celebrations
will be held throughout the city, beginning the evening of June 5. |
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