Jerusalem, Mecca, and Medina

Jerusalem has been the center of this territorial struggle because all three religions believe it is one of the holiest places on Earth. The city remains divided: West Jerusalem is part of Israel, and East Jerusalem is in the Palestinian West Bank. Israel controls the Old City of Jerusalem, which contains the sites holy to Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, despite its location in East Jerusalem. The cities of Mecca and Medina in today's Saudi Arabia are also holy to Islam. See the reference map in Figure 7.12 for the locations of Jerusalem, Mecca, and Medina.

Map of the Middle East

Figure 7.12 Part of the Region of Northwest Africa and Southwest Asia.


Source: U.S. Central Intelligence Agency, https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/static/50ef99808aa400abf29992a276c18dc0/middle_east_pol-1.pdf
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