ABSTRACT
For the most of the history of Islam, Jerusalem has had a predominantly Muslim population, and it has been under Islamic rule for most of the thirteen centuries since the Christian patriarch surrendered the city to the Caliph Umar in 638 CE. People identify with Israeli political parties for many reasons, some having little to do with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. To ascertain the motivational force of believing that Palestinians have some legitimate rights with regard to Jerusalem. One recent study divided Israeli Jews into four groups, depending on their views as to whether Palestinians have any legitimate rights with regard to Jerusalem and whether a peace agreement with the Palestinians will lead to long-term peace. The empirical research suggests that despite official boundaries, halachic positions, and political rhetoric, the people should go slowly in making any assumptions with respect to how ordinary Israelis or Palestinians define Jerusalem.
