A Simple Solution For How To Divide Jerusalem

Map found on redditThe map above shows one way you could divide Jerusalem based on the precent set in Berlin at the end of World War 2. More about the map and meme:

It shows the Old City of Jerusalem divided into zones of occupation by the Soviet Union, the United States, Britain, and France: just like postwar Berlin (1945–1990) was divided after World War II.

Why it’s funny:

1. Historical parody:
   • Berlin was famously split into four occupation zones (Soviet, American, British, French).
   • This map applies the same concept to Jerusalem, which has been a city of intense international disputes, religious claims, and political tensions.
2. Absurd alternate history:
   • In reality, Jerusalem was never divided into Soviet, U.S., British, and French zones.
   • Instead, after the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, the city was split between Israel (West Jerusalem) and Jordan (East Jerusalem, including the Old City) until 1967.
   • By putting Soviet, American, British, and French occupation zones on Jerusalem, the meme imagines a bizarre “Cold War Berlin–style Jerusalem.”
3. Political satire:
   • It pokes fun at how Jerusalem is often described as a city carved up by different groups (Jews, Muslims, Christians, Israelis, Palestinians, etc.).
   • The meme exaggerates this by overlaying the exact Cold War template of Berlin onto the Old City.

The joke in short:

This is a what-if scenario: “What if Jerusalem had been divided up after WWII the same way Berlin was?”

It’s humorous because it highlights both the real-world complexity of Jerusalem and the absurdity of Cold War-style partitions being applied somewhere else.

The Real Four Quarters of the Old City

1. Muslim Quarter (largest, northeast)
   • Population: Predominantly Palestinian Muslims.
   • Key sites:
     • Temple Mount / Haram al-Sharif – includes the Dome of the Rock and Al-Aqsa Mosque, two of the holiest sites in Islam.
     • Traditional markets (souks) and residential areas.
   • Historically the most populous quarter.
2. Christian Quarter (northwest)
   • Population: Various Christian denominations (Greek Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Armenian, Coptic, Syriac, Ethiopian).
   • Key sites:
     • Church of the Holy Sepulchre – believed to contain the site of Jesus’s crucifixion, burial, and resurrection, making it the holiest site in Christianity.
     • Numerous monasteries, convents, and hostels for pilgrims.
3. Jewish Quarter (southeast)
   • Population: Primarily Jewish residents (though expelled after 1948, they returned after 1967).
   • Key sites:
     • Western Wall (Kotel) – the last surviving remnant of the Second Temple complex, Judaism’s holiest prayer site.
     • Yeshivas (Jewish religious schools) and restored synagogues.
   • Also contains archaeological remains of ancient Jerusalem.
4. Armenian Quarter (southwest)
   • Population: Armenian Christian community, one of the oldest continuous communities in the city.
   • Key sites:
     • St. James Cathedral and the Armenian Patriarchate.
   • Smaller in size than the others, but maintains a distinct identity and autonomy.

Historical Context

• The division into “quarters” isn’t a strict legal or political separation, but rather a traditional and demographic one that developed over centuries under Ottoman, British, Jordanian, and Israeli rule.
• The Ottoman Empire (1517–1917) recognized these divisions.
• During the British Mandate (1917–1948), the Old City remained multi-ethnic and multifaith.
• After the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, the Old City fell under Jordanian control; Jews were expelled, synagogues destroyed, and only Muslims and Christians lived there.
• In 1967, during the Six-Day War, Israel took control of the Old City, and Jews returned to the Jewish Quarter. Today, all four quarters exist side by side under Israeli administration.

Overlapping Importance

• Judaism: Temple Mount (First & Second Temples), Western Wall.
• Christianity: Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Via Dolorosa (Jesus’s path to crucifixion).
• Islam: Haram al-Sharif, Dome of the Rock, Al-Aqsa Mosque.

That’s why Jerusalem is not only divided into quarters but also layered in meaning, with multiple religions claiming sacred spaces in close proximity.

Books on the topic:

• Jerusalem: The Spatial Politics of a Divided Metropolis
• Under Jerusalem: The Buried History of the World’s Most Contested City
• Divided Cities: Belfast, Beirut, Jerusalem, Mostar, and Nicosia
• Cold War Berlin: An Island City