Continuity and Resistance in the Historical Transformation of Jerusalem's Damascus Gate (Urban Identity, Administrative Actions, and Conflicts)

Abstract

This article aims to analyze the historical and modern transformations of the Damascus Gate in Jerusalem, focusing particularly on the urban planning projects and social interactions that occurred during the British Mandate period. Spanning from the Ottoman era to the British Mandate, the study examines changes in the physical and social structure of this site within the framework of collective memory, identity, and modernity. The article adopts Richard Sennett’s theoretical framework on urban spaces and public areas. Sennett’s critique of the weakening of social functions and the rise of individualism in public spaces under modernity provides an analytical foundation for understanding the transformations of the Damascus Gate. Through a review of literature, historical documents, and periodical press sources, the article investigates how the spatial changes around the Damascus Gate during the British Mandate period impacted social solidarity, identity, and resistance. The study demonstrates that urban modernization and Western-oriented city planning projects implemented during the British Mandate sought to weaken the historical functions of the Damascus Gate. However, despite the emergence of modern consumer culture and spatial transformations, the Damascus Gate has continued to serve as a powerful symbol of social solidarity, resistance, and collective memory for the Palestinian community. The Damascus Gate is a site of tension between modernity and tradition, highlighting efforts to preserve its social and cultural significance. The central research question of the article is formulated as follows: “As a historical public space, how has the Damascus Gate sustained or lost its functions as a site of social solidarity, collective memory, and resistance amid transformations driven by modernity, consumer culture, and urban planning projects during the British Mandate period? ” This question offers a theoretical discussion on modern urban spaces’ social and cultural functions. The spatial reorganizations around the Damascus Gate during the British Mandate period deeply influenced the social and cultural context of the area. Richard Sennett’s critiques of how modern urban planning disrupts social bonds provide a valuable framework for understanding the transformation of the Damascus Gate during this period. In this context, the article explores not only the physical transformations of the site but also their profound effects on collective memory, solidarity, and resistance. © 2025 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.