Why did Richard I advance toward Jerusalem twice without attacking the city?

During the Third Crusade, Richard I led his forces toward Jerusalem twice but chose not to lay siege to the city on either occasion. Although he reached a point where he could see his objective, he recognized that he lacked control of the surrounding hinterland. Consequently, he concluded that even if he were to capture the city, he would be unable to hold it for any significant length of time.12

While this decision was considered tactically sound by the king, it was deeply unpopular among his troops. The rank and file of the Crusader army bitterly rejected his subsequent suggestion to attack Saladin’s power base in Egypt instead.12