Will There be Violence? Too Soon to Say.
A lot of apocalyptic predictions have circulated against the backdrop of Trump’s Jerusalem proclamation. In fact, while the days immediately after the speech saw a series of mostly minor demonstrations and clashes, it is far too early for anyone to say whether the situation will escalate into a more major confrontation with Israeli authorities, who for now […]
Amendment to Jerusalem Basic Law Moves Forward
In its meeting on November 28th, the Knesset’s Constitution, Justice and Law Committee approved a pending piece of legislation designed to obstruct any future peace agreement with the Palestinians, by making it much harder for any government to give up Israeli control over any part of Jerusalem. The committee’s approval opens the way for the second and […]
Planned Demolitions in Kafr Aqab
As published in various media outlets at the end of October, Jerusalem municipal authorities plan to demolish four buildings (not five or six, as reported in some outlets) in Kafr Aqab, on a street adjacent to the separation barrier (which in this area takes the form of a huge wall). Kafr Aqab, it should be recalled, is […]
Another Jerusalem-Area Bedouin Community Under Threat
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. […]
Historic Basin Cable Car Project Advances
The Jerusalem Municipality, together with the Ministry of Tourism and the Jerusalem Development Authority, is accelerating the development of the Historic Basin cable car initiative – a plan to build an aerial cable car running between Jerusalem’s First Train Station and the Old City’s Dung Gate/the northern entrance to Silwan. On December 13, the project […]
Tightening the Noose Around Walajeh
Residents of the beleaguered village of El-Walajeh were given notice on November 12 that the Ein Yael checkpoint, located between Jerusalem and Har Gilo at the southern exit of Jerusalem, is going to be moved deeper inside the Palestinian side of the village. As some readers may recall, Walajeh is a village on Jerusalem’s southern flank that […]
chronology of recent settlement-related developments in Jerusalem
Special note from Danny Seidemann: In this report we present a detailed chronology of recent settlement-related developments in Jerusalem. As will be clear to anyone reading this timeline (and already clear to anyone reading the news), the situation is grave. However, it is imperative to note that the latest development, Netanyahu’s last-minute decision to cancel a […]
Imminent Threat: Green Light for Givat Hamatos Tenders
In recent months we’ve reported on the apparent wholesale removal by Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu of restraint when it comes to settlement activity in East Jerusalem, with two important exceptions: Givat Hamatos and E-1. Construction of these settlements, the former in the southwest of East Jerusalem, and the latter between East Jerusalem and Ma’ale Adumim, would profoundly […]
The Potential War Crime of Khan al Ahmar
For years we’ve been reporting on threats to displace Bedouin living in the West Bank just outside of Jerusalem, in the area onto which Israeli wants expand Ma’ale Adumim and build the E-1 settlement. These threats and specific policies targeting communities in question, including home demolitions, have been documented in detail by Israeli and international human rights […]
The Jerusalem Umbrella Municipality & de facto Annexation
In the past, we have flagged Netanyahu’s support for a legislative initiative to include settlements in Jerusalem’s environs within the municipal boundaries of Jerusalem. Until now, this assessment was based on a sole declaration made by Netanyahu several weeks ago. No longer. In a widely covered Likud event in Ma’ale Adumim, Netanyahu elected to highlight his support and left […]