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Essay / Jerusalem: From a Spiritual City to a Chaotic Place
As the famous Benjamin Disraeli once said: “The vision of Jerusalem is the history of the world; it is more, it is the history of the earth and the sky.” Jerusalem is a sacred and ancient city that holds great importance in the history of humanity as well as in the three largest monotheistic religions: Judaism, the island and Christianity. It is a hallowed city, special in every sense of the word, a land of religious and historical significance, holy to a third of the world's population. Which begs the question: how did a spiritual city as such evolve into the chaotic and perilous place it is today? Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get the original essay During the city's long history, Jerusalem was constantly attacked and destroyed, resulting in its residents living in a state of perpetual fear, even today. On August 9, 2011, a young Palestinian carrying a guitar case casually entered the heart of West Jerusalem and disappeared into the crowd. No one could have imagined that a deadly suicide bomb filled with nails, screws and bolts was hidden inside the guitar case. Its explosion claimed the lives of 15 innocent people, leaving many families and communities in devastation. Streets were blocked and checkpoints placed in every corner of the city. Emergency vehicles and ambulances filled the surrounding streets while the victims' flesh was carefully collected for a decent burial. This attack was not only a national crisis for Israel but also a wake-up call for the government. Jerusalem was gradually becoming a land of fear and danger. Public spaces were closely monitored and residents' mobility was also limited after the attack. This has seriously affected the functioning of the country, as property prices, tourism and foreign investment have declined significantly. It was at this point that the Israeli political elite re-evaluated the idea of the West Bank wall, which had previously been rejected due to its high cost. The proposal to build a wall to separate Israel and Palestine was finally approved this time. Following the outline of the Oslo Accord, the West Bank border was divided into three zones, namely A, B and C. In 2013, the construction of the West Bank barrier began and it was one of the largest infrastructures in the history of both countries. This unprecedented wall consisted of large-scale fencing, ditches, barbed wire, combed sandy paths, an electronic surveillance system, patrol routes and a buffer zone. The gigantic 28-foot-high concrete slabs on land in Jerusalem and three other cities prevent snipers from shooting at Israeli vehicles and homes. Although this barrier has succeeded in reducing the risks of attacks and terrorism, its construction has indirectly changed the lives of many people. The route of the barrier has been revised several times due to constant international and legal pressure. Amendments were also made to minimize the lives of people near the wall, particularly farmers and Palestinian residents. Although these modifications were intended to reduce the disruption that this wall had caused to nearby residents, they nevertheless left destructive and irreversible impacts. In 1967, Palestinian residents living in East Jerusalem were granted "permanent residency" status after the Israeli decision. occupation. This means they were allowed.