This work brings together a range of experts to examine the religious, political, legal, social and cultural aspects of holy places in Israel/Palestine. The authors show how the holy sites have been a focus of both conflict and cooperation between different communities.

Over the last twenty years, there has been a growing understanding that conflicts in or over holy places differ from other territorial conflicts. A holy site has a profound meaning, involving human beliefs, strong emotions, -sacred- values, and core identity self-perceptions; therefore a dispute over such land differs from a -regular- dispute over land. In order to resolve conflicts over holy sites, one must be equipped with an understanding of the cultural, religious, social, and political meaning of the holy place to each of the contesting groups.

This book seeks to understand...

Over the last twenty years, there has been a growing understanding that conflicts in or over holy places differ from other territorial conflicts. A holy site has a profound meaning, involving human beliefs, strong emotions, -sacred- values, and core identity self-perceptions; therefore a dispute over such land differs from a -regular- dispute over land. In order to resolve conflicts over holy sites, one must be equipped with an understanding of the cultural, religious, social, and political meaning of the holy place to each of the contesting groups.

This book seeks to understand...