Herzog Proposes De-Annexing Parts of East Jerusalem
Israeli opposition leader Isaac Herzog (Zionist Union) said this week that conditions were not right for resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and offered his new plan for steps Israel should take now to manage the situation. These steps include cutting off Israel and Jerusalem from a number of Palestinian neighborhoods of East Jerusalem. In his words, “Then we’ll re-unite […]
The Tightening Occupation in East Jerusalem
Israel forced Palestinians in East Jerusalem to cancel a January 17 cultural event at the Palestinian National Theater. Israeli Public Security Minister Erdan accused the Palestinian Authority of being linked to the event and thus shut it down (on the ground that the Oslo Agreement prevents the PA from participating in such events in Jerusalem without Israeli […]
Jerusalem Tensions Remain High
Temple Mount/Haram al Sharif: Since Secretary Kerry’s visit to Jerusalem on November 24, there has been some reduction in tensions, particularly with respect to the Temple Mount/Haram al Sharif. However, there are players on both sides who are clearly interested in challenging efforts to restore calm and sustain the current understanding, including Israel’s commitment to maintain […]
New Settlement Developments – Ramat Shlomo
On November 16 the Netanyahu government approved issuance of tenders for some 436 new units in the East Jerusalem settlement of Ramat Shlomo – in the context of the plan infamously approved in 2010, during a visit by U.S. Vice President Biden. The publication of these tenders is a serious development, marking the end of a relatively long […]
New Settlement Developments – Gilo
On December 16 approval was granted to deposit for public review Town Plan 175505, for 891 units to be located on private land on the southern slopes of the east Jerusalem settlement of Gilo. Under TP 175505, the new construction will extend beyond the expropriation line and expand the current footprint of Gilo in the direction of […]
New Settlement Developments – the Old City & Its Environs
With a partial lull in settlement activities in the large settlement neighborhoods of East Jerusalem, it appears that the center of gravity of settler activities has moved to the Old City and its visual basin, in places like the Muslim Quarter, Wadi Hilweh/City of David, Batan al Hawa/Yemenite Quarter, Sheikh Jarrah, etc. The cumulative evidence […]
Revealed in Newly-Released Documents: Massive Planning Advancing for Settlements
Permit Issued for Mughrabi Ramp On March 3, the Jerusalem Municipality issued a permit enabling the commencement of construction on the new Mughrabi Gate ramp, leading from the Western Wall plaza to the Temple Mount/Haram al Sharif. This approval permit could not have been issued without the approval of the Prime Minister, whose office is […]
Understanding “Status Quo” on the Temple Mount/Haram al Sharif
Understanding “Status Quo” on the Temple Mount/Haram al Sharif In recent months, the Temple Mount/Haram al Sharif has again been in the spotlight. Much as been said about the “Status Quo” at the site — questions about what the Status Quo actually is, whether any party has acted to changed it, and whether any party seeks to […]