A place unlike any other in the world: home to the most important holy sites of the three Abrahamic religions; shaped by successive empires that have left their mark; and a space that exists as powerfully in people’s hearts and minds as it does on the ground.

Each year, millions of visitors come to the Old City, captivated by its narrow alleyways and the stories embedded in every stone. At the same time, the Old City is home to approximately 35,000 residents—Muslims, Jews, and Christians—whose lives are deeply affected by political interests, as well as laws and policies aimed at reshaping the city’s character and identity.

The tour examines the political and historical processes that shape life in the Old City, focusing on the intersection of tourism, heritage, and politics. We will discuss the actors and movements operating at the crossroads of politics, tourism, and religion, and their impact on the communities living in and around the Old City. Special attention will be given to the Al-Aqsa Mosque / Temple Mount compound at the heart of the city, its central role in Israeli and Palestinian perceptions of freedom and security, and the rise of the Temple Mount Movement and its significance within Israeli society.

Tour stops include: Damascus Gate, Al-Wad Street, the Cotton Market alley, the Armenian Quarter, a viewpoint overlooking the Al-Aqsa Mosque / Temple Mount compound, and a viewpoint overlooking the Silwan neighborhood.

In a different reality, Silwan could have served as a model for integration—where daily life, tourism, history, and national identity are interwoven within Jerusalem’s rich historical landscape.

In practice, it has become one of the central flashpoints of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict in Jerusalem.

This tour offers an in-depth introduction to the Palestinian neighborhood adjacent to the Old City, at the heart of which lies the continually expanding “City of David” tourist site. As we walk through the neighborhood, we will examine how the major issues of the conflict—sovereignty, borders, and political futures—shape the most basic aspects of everyday life, including planning, home demolitions, education, and policing.

We will explore the ways in which archaeology, tourism, and heritage function as integral components of political policy in the neighborhoods surrounding the Old City, and how these dynamics connect to broader policies across Jerusalem. The tour will consider how this relationship affects daily life in Silwan and contributes to the shaping of competing narratives in the urban space.

Tour stops include: Wadi Hilweh / “City of David,” the Pool of Siloam, the al-Bustan neighborhood, the Batan al-Hawa neighborhood, and Wadi Rababa / the Ben Hinnom Valley.
Please note that the route is dependent on coordination with local stakeholders and may be subject to change.

For decades, Jerusalem has been considered an obstacle on the road to peace.
However, here at Ir Amim we see the city differently. In fact, in Jerusalem we see the potential for a groundbreaking model, a place to work out a solution that truly takes into account the needs and aspirations of both peoples who share the city.

Join us for a tour of East Jerusalem, where we’ll visit key sites in the city and bear witness to the realities of segregation, displacement, and inequality on the ground. Then, together, we’ll envision how these same spaces could be transformed. We’ll imagine what a future of justice, true equality, and peace in the city could look like—one that embraces shared existence while respecting distinct national identities.

The tour is based on Ir Amim’s political roadmap “Hope from Jerusalem,” born from decades of work on the ground—through research, community engagement, partnerships, and public advocacy by Ir Amim.

Ir Amim offers personalized tours for diverse groups: students, educators, pre-military academies, activists, Jewish community groups, professionals, and more.

Book your private tour with Ir Amim’s expert staff today!