Jabal al-Baba is a Bedouin community located in E-1, between East Jerusalem and Ma’ale Adumim. Its residents have lived in the area since they were forced off their land in the Negev as part of the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948. In mid-November, the IDF ordered all 300 residents of the community to leave the village.
This is not the first Bedouin community in this area targeted by Israeli authorities, who appear determined to clear the area of its Palestinian residents. Back in the summer/fall, the IDF increased pressure on Khan al-Ahmar, which remains at risk (for our detailed reporting on that case). The planned transfer of Jabal al-Baba, in addition to the threats against Khan al-Ahmar, is another step that should raise concern about the the risk that the Israeli government is paving the way towards the construction of E1.