Ottoman Jerusalem

The Ottomans take Constantinople in 1453. Selim I defeats the Mamluks in 1517 at Marj-Dabik. Jerusalem peacefully surrenders to the Ottomans in 1516, and the Ottomans rule Jerusalem from 1516 to 1918. Under the Ottoman administration and a strong centralized government, the Turkish-Ottoman kingdom flourished in 16^th Century.  

Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent rules Jerusalem from 1520 to 1566. He builds the Sultan’s Pool in 1532, and he rebuilds the walls of Jerusalem from 1536  to 1541. He enacts an extensive campaign to refurbish the Haram and its monuments and replaces the mosaics on exterior of Dome of the Rock with Syrian tiles. He also builds the Khassaki Sultan complex, a huge public charity for Jerusalem’s inhabitants. His work in Jerusalem parallels that at Mecca and Medina. Jerusalem becomes the third great city of Islam. During his rule, Suleiman establishes a shari’a court. Jewish refugees encouraged to settle in Jerusalem to restore city. The population increases to 13,384 including 1,650 Jews.

From Suleiman to Abdulhamid II, restorations of the Haram coincide with the granting of concessions to foreign rulers and religious groups abroad and in Jerusalem. They also usually immediately preceded or followed a restoration of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.

The Western Wall is given to Jews by Suleiman as a place of prayer. The Wall begins to attract myths. Suleiman himself clears the site and purifies it. The Shekhinah settles there after the destruction of the Temple. The Jews believe it is where the Gate of Heaven situated directly above the Western Wall. It is the symbol of the destruction of the Temple.

Saladin allows Jews to resettle and is proclaimed as “the New Cyrus.” Ashkelon Jews are given the Maghribi Quarter, which later comes to be known as the Jewish Quarter. Judah Halevi argues that Jews must return to Jerusalem, because Jerusalem is the “Gate of Heaven” wherein Jews need to stake their rightful claim. This idea that Jews need to go to Jerusalem and settle there becomes known as Zionism.