Sacred to three traditions, the Old City of Jerusalem is the Gordian knot at the center of the Middle East conflict. This book explores how religious and political interests compete for control of this sacred space, and how that competition affects the Middle East peace process. Dumper analyzes the religious dynamics in the 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 revealing portrait emerges of an ancient city in the context of contemporary change, central to the attainment of a lasting peace in the region.