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Al-Quds Arab Capital of Culture ( ) is the 2009 edition of the Arab Capital of Culture programme. The programme, organised by UNESCO and the Arab League, is designed to promote and celebrate Arab culture and encourage cooperation in the Arab world. The 2009 edition is the fourteenth of the programme since its establishment in 1996.
Al-Quds is the Arabic name for Jerusalem, the city that the State of Israel claims as its capital city. It is Israel's seat of government, housing Israel's legislature, the Knesset. The international community as well as the International Court of Justice considers East Jerusalem to be Palestinian land occupied by Israel (UN Security Council Resolution 242 , 478 , etc. and UN General Assembley Resolution 181(II) ). As result no state has an embassy in Jerusalem. Jerusalem is also the proclaimed capital of the State of Palestine, which is recognised by all members of the Arab League, although the seat of government and de facto capital is Ramallah, in the West Bank. However, many of the events were organised elsewhere in the parts of Palestine controlled by the Palestinian National Authority. Those that were scheduled to take place in Jerusalem were actively discouraged by the Israeli authorities. The opening event was scheduled to be held on January 2009, but it was delayed until March due to the ongoing Gaza War, and it was launched on 21 March 2009.
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