Hananya Naftali
Nov 7, 2026
Israel's Capital City
The Short Answer
Jerusalem is the capital of Israel. It is home to the Knesset, the Supreme Court, the President's Residence and the Prime Minister's Office. Some countries keep their embassies in the Tel Aviv area for political reasons, but Tel Aviv is not Israel's capital.
Jerusalem, Capital of the Jewish People
Jerusalem has been the center of Jewish life for about three thousand years. Jews pray facing Jerusalem, and the city is mentioned hundreds of times in the Hebrew Bible.
Israel declared Jerusalem its capital soon after independence. The Knesset has met in Jerusalem since 1949, and in 1980 Israel passed a Basic Law affirming united Jerusalem as its capital.
Why Some Embassies Are in Tel Aviv
Many countries avoided placing embassies in Jerusalem because of Arab objections. The United States moved its embassy to Jerusalem in 2018, and other countries have followed. Read more: Is Jerusalem in Israel or Palestine?
Key Facts
Jerusalem is Israel's capital and seat of government.
The Knesset has met in Jerusalem since 1949.
The US embassy moved to Jerusalem in 2018.
Tel Aviv is Israel's economic center, not its capital.