Post-Aqaba Settlement Expansion in East Jerusalem
In a joint communique released by the United States, Jordan, Egypt Israel and the Palestinian Authority, upon the conclusion of the Aqaba Summit on February 26, 2023, both Israel and the Palestinian Authority, reaffirmed their “commitment to immediately work to end unilateral measures for a period of 3-6 months, [including a halt to discussion].” Since […]
The Southern Flank: Detaching Jerusalem from Bethlehem
Recent months have been witnessing a number of developments that disclose fundamental changes in the trajectory and nature of the conflict gripping Jerusalem. Some pose threats to the potential of any future political agreement, but also to the unique character of the city. Many of these developments have been years in the making but are […]
Settlements Update: Netanyahu Government’s Strategic Agenda
Recent months have been witnessing a number of developments that disclose fundamental changes in the trajectory and nature of the conflict gripping Jerusalem. Some of which pose threats not only to the potential of any future political agreement, but to the unique character of the city. Many of these developments have been years in the […]
The Aqaba Understandings: Taking Stock of the Jerusalem Dimension
On February 26, 2023, Israel and the Palestinians arrived at a number of understandings in the framework of a newly-forged quintet summit in Aqaba, Jordan, in which the United States, Jordan and Egypt participated. This was followed by a summit in Sharm el-Sheikh on March 19, 2023, that sought to solidify and reaffirm the agreed-upon […]
Update: An Important Breaking Development in Silwan
This update deals with an important development in Silwan requiring close attention. It is not only highly significant in and of itself, but a likely harbinger of things to come. What happened? On December 27, 2022, the Elad settlers of Silwan accompanied by a heavily armed detail of Israeli police, took over a large plot of […]
Update: Settler Takeover of Greek Orthodox Church Plots, Silwan
On 7th December, 2022 we learned that the Elad Settler movement is claiming ownership of two large parcels of land that are/have been owned by the Greek Orthodox Church adjacent to the Pool of Siloam in Silwan. Together, the plots (no. 46 and 47) are almost half a Dunam in size (500 sq. m). Apparently, the purported purchase of […]
Insiders’ Jerusalem: Settlement Developments Update Under Lapid Government
This update covers three settlement plans currently on the agenda, their respective status and the implications if advanced. Givat Shaked is a new settlement located beyond the Green Line on the northern slopes of the Palestinian neighborhood of Sharafat/Beit Safafa. It entails the construction of more than 700 settlement units, as well as schools and […]
Insiders’ Jerusalem: The Main Takeaways from the US Presidential Visit – The Jerusalem Angle
The “Jerusalem context” in which the Presidential visit took place is of special significance. The Trump administration had recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel (albeit with undetermined borders), moved the US Embassy there and shut down the US Consulate in the city. In 2018, President Trump explicitly stated that “Jerusalem had been taken off the table,” and Israeli government policies […]
Insiders’ Jerusalem: Expansion of the National Park in the Visual Basin of the Holy City
What is this about, and why is it important? Want to know why? Start here. On April 10, 2022, the Jerusalem Local Planning and Construction Committee will discuss the approval of a Town Plan submitted by the Israel Nature and Parks Authority (Plan No. 101-0674788). The objective of the Plan is to enlarge the boundaries […]
LETTER: Church Leaders to Environment Minister Zandberg
The following is the text of a letter addressed to Israeli Minister of the Environment Tamar Zandberg by the heads of Churches in the Holy Land. A copy of the original can be found here. “Your Excellency: We the heads of Churches in the Holy Land write to you to express our gravest concern and […]