At-Tur

Basic Information

Type

Town

Governorate

Jerusalem

Region

Jerusalem

Overview

At-Tur (Arabic for 'The Mount') is the main Palestinian neighborhood on the Mount of Olives, one of the most significant religious sites in the world. Located approximately 1 km east of the Old City at 800 meters elevation, the neighborhood is believed to be near the location of Bethphage from the New Testament. The Mount of Olives holds profound religious significance: for Muslims, it is the site of the Ascension of Prophet Jesus (Isa); for Christians, it is where Jesus prayed in Gethsemane, wept over Jerusalem, and ascended to heaven; for Jews, its slopes contain the oldest continuously used cemetery in the world, with graves dating back 3,000 years. At-Tur has been inhabited since ancient times, with archaeological findings from the Second Temple period including burial caves and ritual installations. During Ottoman rule, it was a small Muslim village of 48 households (1596). By 1961, under Jordanian rule, the population had grown to 4,289, including 686 Christians. Since 1967, At-Tur has been under Israeli occupation, and Palestinian residents have faced increasing property purchases by Jewish Israelis seeking to establish a presence on the mount. The Christian minority has been declining due to emigration pressures.

Historical Significance

On the Mount of Olives, a site of immense religious significance. Contains churches, mosques, and the ancient Jewish cemetery.

Sources and record limitations

Source detail varies by record. Some entries include document and page references; others supply source names only. Check the cited material and the record's limitations before relying on a specific claim.

• Ir Amim
• B'Tselem
• UN OCHA
• ARIJ
• UNESCO
• BADIL Resource Center

On the Mount of Olives