The Jewish cemetery on the Mount of Olives is the most ancient and important Jewish burial site in Jerusalem.

Burial on the Mount of Olives dates back to the first and second temple periods, when burial caves lined the slopes. The modern cemetery began to take shape in the 16th century, when it was officially leased from the Jerusalem Islamic Waqf.

The cemetery now holds between 70,000–150,000 tombs, including those of many prominent figures in Jewish history. Notable individuals who are buried in the Mount of Olives include Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak Kook, the first Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi; Henrietta Szold, the founder of the Hadassah organisation; and poet Else Lasker-Schuler.

In the 19th century, the Mount of Olives became a burial place not only for locals, but for Jews travelling from abroad to be buried in Jerusalem’s sacred soil. Over the years, many Jews have travelled to Jerusalem to live out their final years before being laid to rest in its sacred soil. The desire to be buried on the Mount of Olives stemmed partly from the Segulah, a spiritual merit believed to offer protection, blessings or divine favour.

The cemetery sustained damage during the Jordanian administration between 1949 and 1967. During this period, Israel raised concerns over the cemetery’s condition, citing vandalism and grave destruction, including the repurposing of headstones and impact from infrastructure works. These concerns were brought to the UN in 1954 and remained a source of tension in the years that followed.

Following the burial of Prime Minister Menachem Begin in 1992, a security company was established to protect the Mount of Olives cemetery and its visitors.

Due to security concerns in the early 2000s, including incidents of harassment and violence, a dedicated guard unit was formed in 2005 to escort visitors. Reports of vandalism and attacks continued in the years following.

In 2011, a high-profile incident involving a cemetery visitor drew public attention to the ongoing security challenges and led to renewed calls for intervention.

While restoration projects have been launched in recent decades, challenges with vandalism and preservation continue, particularly amid ongoing regional tensions.