Each site and shrine is administered by its own religious authority, and freedom of access and worship is ensured by law. Major holy places are:
Jewish: Jerusalem's Kotel (the Western Wall), last remnant of the retaining wall of the Temple Mount from the Second Temple period; Rachel's Tomb, near Bethlehem; Tomb of the Patriarchs in the Cave of Machpela, in Hebron; the tombs of Maimonides (Rambam) in Tiberias and Rabbi Shimon Bar Yohai in Meron.
Jerusalem: The Kotel (Western Wall) - Photo: I. Sztulman
Islamic: The Haram a-Sharif building complex on the Temple Mount, including the Dome of the Rock and Al-Aksa Mosque in Jerusalem; Tomb of the Patriarchs, in Hebron; El-Jazzar Mosque, in Akko.
Jerusalem: The Dome of the Rock (Photo: Ministry of Tourism)
Christian: Via Dolorosa, Room of the Last Supper, Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and other sites of Jesus's passion and crucifixion in Jerusalem; Church of the Nativity, in Bethlehem; Church of the Annunciation, in Nazareth; Mount of Beatitudes, Tabgha, and Capernaum, near the Sea of Galilee (Lake Kinneret).
Mount of Beatitudes: church exterior, traditional site of the Sermon on the Mount (Photo: Ministry of Tourism)