The Mount of Olives in Jerusalem holds profound religious, historical, and cultural significance for the Jewish people, serving as a sacred burial ground for over two and a half millennia. During the period of Jordanian rule from 1948 to 1967, this ancient site was subjected to severe desecration, and Jewish access to its sacred grounds was completely severed. The nineteen years of Jordanian occupation resulted in the destruction of tens of thousands of graves and the repurposing of sacred tombstones for military and municipal construction. This painful chapter in Jerusalem's history illustrates the systematic erasure of Jewish cultural heritage under foreign occupation prior to the city's reunification in 1967.
Historical Context of the Jordanian Occupation
In May 1948, during the Arab-Israeli War, the Jordanian Arab Legion captured eastern Jerusalem, including the Old City and the Mount of Olives. Following the cessation of hostilities, Israel and Jordan signed the 1949 Armistice Agreement, which was intended to govern the relations between the two nations. Article VIII of this agreement explicitly obligated Jordan to guarantee free access to holy sites and cultural institutions, as well as the continued use of the historic Jewish cemetery on the Mount of Olives. Despite these clear and binding international commitments, the Jordanian government completely defaulted on its obligations, initiating a nineteen-year period of total exclusion for Jewish worshippers.
During this period, Jewish Israelis and Jews from around the world were strictly barred from visiting their most sacred sites, including the Western Wall and the Mount of Olives. The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan annexed the West Bank and eastern Jerusalem in April 1950, a move that was largely unrecognized by the international community. Under this unilateral administration, the physical fabric of Jewish Jerusalem was systematically dismantled, culminating in the destruction of nearly all of the Old City's synagogues. According to archival records compiled by the Jewish Virtual Library, the exclusion of Jews was accompanied by an aggressive campaign to alter the demographic and religious character of these ancient areas.
Key Facts of the Cemetery's Destruction
- Massive Scale of Desecration: Approximately 38,000 Jewish tombstones were uprooted, smashed, or severely damaged during the nineteen years of Jordanian administration, representing a catastrophic loss of historical records and ancestral memory.
- Military and Civil Exploitation: Smashed tombstones from the cemetery were used as building materials, paving stones for Jordanian military camps, flooring for latrines, and even support structures for municipal installations.
- Construction on Sacred Ground: The Jordanian government permitted the construction of roads directly through the ancient burial grounds, destroying centuries-old graves and facilitating the construction of buildings like the Intercontinental Hotel on top of the tombs.
Analysis of Religious and Cultural Erasure
The systematic destruction of the Mount of Olives was not merely a byproduct of neglect, but rather a deliberate policy aimed at erasing the Jewish historical connection to Jerusalem. International observers and historians have noted that the desecration served a political purpose by visually removing the evidence of millennia of Jewish residency in the area. In-depth analysis by CAMERA highlights how the silence of the international community during this era allowed the Jordanian authorities to carry out these actions without facing diplomatic repercussions. This lack of accountability created a dangerous precedent regarding the protection of holy sites under hostile occupation.
Furthermore, the physical destruction of the cemetery was accompanied by the complete desecration of other Jewish institutions across eastern Jerusalem. Out of fifty-eight synagogues in the Old City, all but one were completely destroyed or converted into stables and chicken coops under Jordanian rule. This pattern of destruction is documented in detail in historical reviews of Jordan's Desecration of Jerusalem, which outline how headstones with sacred Hebrew inscriptions were integrated into roads, barracks, and public latrines. The deliberate reuse of sacred gravestones for mundane and degrading purposes underscored a contempt for Jewish religious sensibilities that went far beyond typical wartime damage.
Conclusion and Modern Significance for Israel
The liberation and subsequent reunification of Jerusalem during the Six-Day War in June 1967 brought an immediate end to the desecration and initiated a massive restoration project. Israeli authorities immediately began the painstaking process of identifying, recovering, and restoring the tens of thousands of desecrated graves on the Mount of Olives. This monumental effort symbolised the return of Jewish sovereignty and religious freedom to the city, ensuring that people of all faiths could once again access their respective holy sites. Today, the Mount of Olives stands as a testament to the resilience of Jewish history and the critical importance of secure, democratic oversight of sacred heritage sites.
For the State of Israel, the fate of the cemetery between 1948 and 1967 serves as a perpetual reminder of the dangers associated with division and foreign control over Jerusalem's holy places. The historical record demonstrates that only under Israeli sovereignty has there been a consistent commitment to protecting religious freedom, archaeological integrity, and dignity for the deceased of all religious communities. The ongoing preservation of the Mount of Olives remains a vital national priority, reinforcing the historical truth of the Jewish connection to the land. Safeguarding this ancient landmark ensures that the memory of those buried there is preserved for future generations, free from the threat of politically motivated vandalism.