Sacred to three traditions, the Old City of jerusalem is the Gordian knot at the centre of the Middle East Conflict. This book explores how religious and political interests compete for control of this sacred space, and how that comptition affects the Middle Eat peace process. Dumper analyzes the religious dynamics inthe Old City in political terms, investigating rivalries and tensions at three interrelated levels: among regional and international interests, among the Christian, Islamic and Jewish establishments, and among sects and factions within the religions. A portrait emerges of an ancient city in the context of contemporary change, central to the attainment of a lasting peace in the region.