City Plan

Jerusalem consists of three main sections —the Old City, East Jerusalem, and the New City— and large rural areas, added after 1967, to the north, east, and south. Only the New City was part of Israel prior to the Six Day War of 1967.

The Old City, the ancient core of Jerusalem, is a maze of narrow streets. It is surrounded by high walls and is accessible through eight gates. Four traditional ethnic areas make up most of the Old City the Jewish, Armenian, Christian, and Muslim quarters. The Muslim Quarter is the largest of the four. Within the Old City are most of Jerusalem's holy sites and shrines.

East Jerusalem is the modern Arab section and is primarily residential. It extends eastward from the Old City, with the principal built-up area in the north. Since the late 1960's large Jewish settlements, including apartment complexes, have been built in or near East Jerusalem.

The New City, sometimes called West Jerusalem, extends westward from the Old City and is the principal Jewish section. Though parts are more than a century old, the New City has been largely built since the establishment of Israel in 1948. Located in the New City are the chief government buildings, numerous educational institutions, museums, and large residential areas.