Expansion of Nof Zion in the heart of Jabal Mukkaber
Nof Zion: not your typical settlement enclave With its 96 existing residential units, the Nof Zion settlement, located in the middle of the Palestinian neighborhood of Jabal Mukkaber, differs from the biblically motivated settlement enclaves that are located in the Old City and its visual basin. Hence, along with Ma’aleh Zeitim in Ras el Amud, […]
B’selem report: A pick number of house demolitions in East Jerusalem in 2019
B’selem report: A pick number of house demolitions in East Jerusalem in 2019 Two reports, from OCHA and B’tselem, shed light on the fact that the number of house demolitions significantly increased in East Jerusalem. The B’tselem report shows that the number of house demolitions in 2019 was significantly higher than in any other years in the last 15 […]
Final approval of the Old City Aerial Cable Car plan
Final approval of the Old City Aerial Cable Car plan On November 4, the government Housing Cabinet approved the Old City cable car plan. Opponents of the plan intends to appeal to the High Court, arguing that a transitional government does not have the authority to approve a plan of that scope. As we wrote in a previous report, “Both […]
The Baffling Siege of Issawiya
The Baffling Siege of Issawiya The targeting of Issawiya, without any apparent cause – For the past six months, the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Issawiya, nestled on the northern slopes of Mount Scopus, has witnessed nightly incursions by the Israeli police, repeated closures of the neighborhood and arrests in unprecedented numbers. OCHA’s recent comprehensive report on the clashes […]
The Age of the Unknowable – The impact of Israel’s political crisis on potential developments in Jerusalem
As of this writing in the beginning of December 2019, Israel’s political system is in deep crisis, one which makes it virtually impossible to make credible predictions as to anticipated events, even in the short run. A third round of elections are a definite possibility, but by no means certain. Netanyahu’s political fate is cloaked […]
Tensions in Temple Mount/Haram al Sharif: Cyclical, with a Difference
Tensions in Temple Mount/Haram al Sharif: Cyclical, with a Difference This past year, the celebration of “Jerusalem Day” (May 22), Tish’a B’Av – the Jewish annual commemoration of the destruction of the two Temples (July 30) and Sukkot (October 13-20) – were marked by violent clashes as unprecedented numbers of Jewish worshippers were allowed to enter the Temple Mount/Haram al Sharif. […]
Special Issue: Q&A – Annexation: What Happened and Does It Matter?
Is This New? : To what extent does Netanyahu’s statement of September 10 differ from his pronouncement last April? How can it be carried out? Does annexation of Israeli settlements and/or of the Jordan Valley require Knesset legislation? Why not immediately? Why postpone the decision to after the elections? Does this Matter? Isn’t there already […]
The Inauguration of Silwan Tunnel: Background and Ramifications
The Inauguration of Silwan Tunnel: Background and Ramifications Special issue: The Inauguration of Silwan Tunnel: Background and Ramifications One of the most dramatic developments to take place in Jerusalem in recent months was the highly touted ceremony officially opening the tunnel, or subterranean road, beneath Silwan/the City of David, highlighted by the participation of […]
Is Netanyahu Displaying Restraint? The Cases of Khan al Ahmar, Givat Hamatos and E-1
In the run-up to April’s national elections, we speculated that Netanyahu might approve or implement one or more of three highly contentious schemes which he had refrained from approving in the past: the evacuation of Khan al Ahmar, the publications of tenders for construction at Givat Hamatos, and moving towards the statutory approval of E-1. These suspicions […]
Systemic collective punishment and severe clashes in Issawiya
On Junes 27, 20-year-old Mohammed Samir Abid was killed by Israeli police forces during protests in the East Jerusalem Palestinian neighborhood of Issawiya against the intensification of police raids in the area. He was shot dead as he was throwing firecrackers towards police officers. The killing, as well as the initial refusal to release its body, triggered intensive clashes that brought […]