Editorial
Jerusalem's centrality to the three monotheistic faiths - Islam, Judaism and Christianity - lent the city its uniqueness, but also made it the focus of strife throughout history. Jerusalem, today, remains an issue of contention that is at the core of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Since their occupation and unilateral annexation in 1967 of the Arab eastern part of Jerusalem, the Israeli authorities have been exploiting their position of control in the city in order to change its image and encourage its Judaization. Successive Israeli governments adopted this policy, which is underpinned by a twofold objective: to increase the Jewish population and to concurrently diminish the number of the Palestinian inhabitants. Jewish settlements were thus built within the municipal boundaries of Jerusalem and around it; these are being continuously expanded and increased, undermining any prospects for compromise over the city. From zero on the eve of the 1967 war, the number of residents in
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