Jerusalem is the capital of Israel, though not internationally recognised as such. If the area and population of East Jerusalem is included, it is Israel's largest city in both population and area, with a population of 763,800 residents over an area of 125.1 km2 (48.3 sq mi). The city is located in the Judean Mountains, between the Mediterranean Sea and the northern edge of the Dead Sea

The oldest part of the city was settled in the 4th millennium BCE, making Jerusalem one of the oldest cities in the world. Today, the status of Jerusalem remains one of the core issues in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. The Israeli government has situated all of its branches in Jerusalem.

Jerusalem is a holy city to the three major Abrahamic religions—Judaism, Christianity and Islam. As a result the Old City is home to numerous sites of key religious importance. Among them are the Temple Mount, the Western Wall, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the Dome of the Rock and al-Aqsa Mosque.