Architecture in Jerusalem is a very important thing to preserve. It is full of beauty, history, and stories. Walking down the old alleys of Jerusalem and looking around at the walls, floor and arches allows you to feel that time has moved back and your living in different stages of the history. Every time I went to Jerusalem and visited the Aqsa mosque I had the same feeling as if it was my first time to visit it. The Golden Dom of the Dom of the Rock stuns me every time and the beauty of the interior of the mosque and the Arabic scripts from the Quran are just amazing.
One of my friends lives in the old city in Jerusalem. His family is one of the oldest families in Jerusalem and owned many houses and buildings which most of them where took in 1967 by the occupation. I visited him in his current house which is inside the city near the Damascus Gate. The house made me feel that I was in one of the Arabic Syrian shows speaking about stories during the Ottoman and even earlier periods.
Preserving the architecture of Jerusalem is very important in order to preserve its identity and history. The occupation continues to work on changing the features of the city and the Arab or Islamic architecture in order to disconnect the city’s history and culture from its surroundings.
Do you know if it's as difficult to get building permits in the Old City as it is in East Jerusalem? That is, I know that getting permits for building in East Jerusalem is nearly impossible, but I'd imagine that since the Old City is a tourist destination, it might be different.
ReplyDeleteWhen you talked about going back to Aqsa mosque and how everything you would visit it felt like your first time--I can relate to that with the Kotel. Every time I go there it amazes me even more than the last time.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you, preserving Jerusalem's everlasting architecture is so important and it's important that Arab culture is maintained because it is a place that is home for so many different people.
Joseph, in the past few years Israel did not give a single permit for building in the Old City for Palestinians, and i guess even for Israelis because the old city demographic location/situation does not allow any new buildings, but the Israeli government is paying millions of US dollars for Palestinians to let them leave their houses, and in other places or neighborhoods, they are just forcibly moving Palestinians from their houses.
ReplyDeletein the past year 2010 The Israeli gov gave the Jewish citizens of Jerusalem around 10,000 permits to build and gave Palestinians of Jerusalem about 200! Palestinians are not even allowed to renew or re decorate their interior unless they get a permit and the permit is never given.
Veronica, i respect and agree with what you said about how essential it is to keep the Palestinian/Arab architecture in Jerusalem.
ReplyDeleteThose are some awesome images that you give, from your experiences in Jerusalem. If I can ever get back to the city, I will make sure that I do not go on Friday so that I can visit the Dome of the Rock. This past summer, when I was there, it was Friday and I could not go into it.
ReplyDeleteAustin, you can't go into the Dome of the Rock any day of the week. It's restricted: Muslims-only.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure about the Aqsa Mosque--I think it's treated the same way. I know a friend of mine had to show paperwork affirming her conversion to Islam before she was allowed into Al Aqsa or the Dome of the Rock.