An important subdivision of Israeli Jews is along the ethnic Sines of Sephardi and Ashkenazi Jews; the former are generally Jews that came from Arab and some Mediterranean countries, and the latter are Jews of European origins. The rift in Israeli society is wide and deep, going back to the 1950s, when Sephardi Jews mostly from Morocco and Iraq were brought to an already established, Ashkenazi-dominated state. While Sephardim are actually more than 50% of the Jewish population in Israel. Ashkenazim still fill most of the power positions in government, economy, the military, and academia, and Sephardim are the vast majority among the poor.

After Mecca and Medina, the most important Muslim holy site is Jerusalem-the Al-Aqsa Mosque. The Qur’an tells of Muhammad’s journey from Mecca to Al-Aqsa (The Farthest) and up through the Seven Heavens to meet with God.