Leiden University Student Repository

Silberman, Adam (2024)

‘The Bedrock of Our Existence’: An Analysis of the Israeli Claim to Jerusalem before and after the Six-Day War

Master thesis | International Relations (MA)

This thesis analyses how, if at all, the Israeli claim to Jerusalem has evolved since 1948. To answer this question, it compares discourse in The Early Years (1948-1967) and The Post Six-Day War Era (1967-2018) periods within three key areas – political, cultural and legal developments. The results show a surface-level evolution of the claim in certain aspects such as the growth of messianism and fundamental legal changes. However, amidst this superficial evolution, a profound substantive consistency prevails across both periods in political and cultural discourse, where the essence remains unchanged, particularly evidenced in the enduring national consensus on the issue and conceptualisation of Jerusalem in the national identity. The implications of this reinforce the notion of a united Jerusalem as a symbolic bedrock of Israel’s existence, historical legitimacy and foundational narrative.

Author

Silberman, Adam

Faculty

Faculty of Humanities

Specialisation

Global Conflict in the Modern Era

Supervisors

Noa Schonmann

ECTS Credits

15

Language

en