Netanyahu Rejects Police Recommendations to Tweak Temple Mt Status Quo
For the second time in as many months, Prime Minister Netanyahu has rejected a recommendation from the Israeli police to remove some of the restrictions imposed on Jewish visits to the Temple Mount/Haram El Sharif. The first time was a the end of October, when Netanyahu refused to accept a recommendation made by the Chief of Police to re-open […]
Batan al-Hawa – New B’tselem Report on Settler Activities
The Israeli human rights organization B’tselem recently published an important new report on the settlers’ aggressive takeover of the Batan al-Hawa neighborhood in Silwan. Within the framework of that report, B’tselem conducted a significant survey, in which it mapped the parcels of land that have been targeted for evictions by the settlers, with the help of the […]
Final Approval of Gilo Expansion – 770 New Units (Mordot Gilo South)
On December 7, the Jerusalem Local Planning and Building Committee gave its final approval for the expansion of the East Jerusalem settlement of Gilo, paving the way for construction of 770 new units under Town Plan 175505. Some background: In previous IJ’s we have reported on plans for expansion of Gilo, including Town Plan 175505, […]
UNESCO Resolutions on the Old City & Its Walls: Analysis
Jerusalem was in the spotlight last month, in the context of two separate votes in UNESCO on resolutions related to the status of the city. The first vote took place on October 12, on a resolution the passage of which sparked objections from Israel and generated widespread controversy and condemnations. The second vote took place on October […]
Demolitions at the Ancient Bab al-Rahma Cemetery?
In recent days, there have been widespread reports, particularly in the Arab press, to the effect that graves located in the ancient Muslim Bab al-Rahma cemetery, owned and run by the Waqf and located along the eastern ramparts of the Old City, north of the Lion Gate, have been destroyed by Israeli Nature and Parks Authority (INPA). […]
Connecting Tel Aviv to the Western Wall?
Minister of Transportation Israel Katz recently announced that the high-speed train line that is to connect Tel Aviv to Jerusalem by the beginning of 2018 should be extended to the Western Wall, near which an underground stop should be built, according to his vision. How serious is this? At this stage, Katz’s plan seems to be not more than […]
2016 High Holidays: Record Numbers of Jewish Visitors on Temple Mount/Haram al Sharif
A record number of 3000 non-Muslim visitors ascended the Temple Mount/Haram El Sharif during the Jewish High Holidays this year (October 3 and October 25, including the Jewish New Year celebrations and Sukkot). The significant increase in the number of visitors (compared to previous annual figures) is clearly a change in the delicate ecosystem on the Temple […]
The American Role: Interregnum and Post-January 20, 2016
As in so many other fields of endeavor, it is quite clear that the election of Donald Trump is a game changer. However, as yet we have no idea into what the game is morphing. What will be American foreign policy vis-à-vis Jerusalem on and after January 21, 2017? It would be grossly irresponsible to […]
Ban on Mosque Morning Call to Prayer
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu appears determined to advance legislation prohibiting the use of loudspeakers in mosques for the dawn call to prayer in Israel and in East Jerusalem. The bill was initially approved by the Cabinet on November 13 but was blocked by the Ultra-Orthodox party, over concerns that it would also prevent the use of sirens in certain cities that […]
Is Barkat Turning Jerusalem Palestinians into “Human Shields” Against Outpost Evacuations?
Against the backdrop of the pending evacuation of the illegal West Bank outpost of Amona, Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat earlier this month threatened that such a precedent would require him to demolish “thousands” of Palestinian homes in East Jerusalem – homes purportedly built on lands that were owned by Jews prior to 1948. On November 17th, Barkat […]