Getting Oriented

Hilly Jerusalem has two centers of gravity—the Old City, on the east side; and the modern Downtown triangle of King George, Ben-Yehuda, and Jaffa streets on the west. Jerusalem is Israel's capital and home to its national institutions, most in Jewish West Jerusalem. East Jerusalem, including the Old City, is largely (but not entirely) Arab. Coexistence is sometimes fragile, and the two communities tend to keep to themselves.