Holy City of Jerusalem

At the center of the country is the Holy City of Jerusalem. This magnificent city, holy to the three great monotheistic faiths, serves as the modern Capital of Israel. King David captured Jerusalem from the Jebusites and brought the Ark of the Covenant to the city. Solomon, his son, built the First Temple on Mt Moriah. Herod the Great rebuilt the Second Temple 2000 years ago and transformed the city. The Talmud tells us that "He who has never seen Herod's Jerusalem has never seen a beautiful city in his lifetime". On the site of the Jewish temple, destroyed by the Romans in the year 70, the Moslems constructed the awe inspiring Dome of the Rock (7th century) and El Aksa Mosque. According the Moslem belief, it was here that Muhammad, the Prophet of Islam, climbed to the heavens on a magical ladder to meet with the angel Gabril and to learn about the new faith Islam. The Temple Mount is today the third holiest site to the Moslem faith.