Christine Darg,

Jerusalem Channel

It’s been exactly a century since the British Entrance to Jerusalem.

Under bright sunshine, Israel is honoring the capture and surrender of Jerusalem exactly 100 years ago today. On 11 Dec 1917, British General Edmund Alleby led an Allied Christian army through Jaffa Gate into the Old City to accept the surrender. After battles all the way from Gaza and Beersheba, the Allies conquered  Jerusalem without a shot being fired. Jerusalem had been under Muslim domination for 673 years.

Here at Jerusalem’s historic Jaffa Gate, we’re in a time warp as Israeli actors re-enact the surrender of the holy city  in a colourful ceremony.

Throughout its history, the city of Jerusalem has known many historical and great moments.

Some of those moments have become legendary. One such legendary moment is when General Edmund Allenby walked from the Jaffa Gate to the Tower of David Citadel during the afternoon of December 11, 1917.

“A Hanukah Miracle” and “a Christmas Present” are just two of the many titles given to the historical event in which the Ottomans, the city’s rulers for 400 years, were defeated by the British Empire, which crossed the country’s borders in the fall of 1917.

Jerusalem, the city holy for Jews, Christians, and Muslims, now had a new government.

“The General and Gentleman – Allenby at the Gates of Jerusalem” exhibition opens today at the Tower of David Museum, exactly one hundred years after the historic event.

The exhibition tracks the dramatic events that unfolded in just one week, a week that marked the beginning of a new and fascinating era in the history of Jerusalem, the Jewish Yishuv, and the entire Land of Israel.

Exhibition opens today at Jerusalem’s Tower of David Museum

At the ceremonies today, the Jerusalem Channel’s Christine Darg says to “General Allenby,” wait for me! I’m coming along 100 years later!