The High Holidays: Time to Keep a Close Eye on the Temple Mt/Haram al Sharif
We have repeatedly cautioned that the trends of radicalization in and around the Temple Mount/Haram al-Sharif are intensifying, creating a serious erosion in the substantive (if not technical) status quo. Notably while formally Jewish prayer is still proscribed by the government, even that is being slowly eroded, (including with pushing-the-envelope games like this). Likewise, the […]
Final Ruling on Khan al-Ahmar – Implications & Next Steps
What did the High Court decide and what does it mean? As was widely anticipated, on September 7, the Israeli High Court of Justice authorized the State of Israel to proceed with the evacuation/destruction of Khan Al-Ahmar, accepting the State’s claim that the village was built illegally. Basically, the Court reiterated and made final what […]
US Cuts Funding for East Jerusalem Hospitals
Last week the Trump Administration announced its decision to cut off funding for East Jerusalem church-run hospitals, as part of its overall decision to cut off funding for the Palestinians. The funding for Jerusalem hospitals, amounting to around $25 million, had initially been left in limbo, with some hope that it might be exempted from […]
Municipality Announces Deal for 20k New Units, Some in East Jerusalem
On August 15, the Jerusalem Municipality announced a deal with the Israel Lands Authority to build 20,000 residential units in the city. According to the Times of Israel, the agreement applies not only to areas of West Jerusalem but “…will also see projects in the Jewish neighborhoods of Pisgat Zeev and French Hill which are […]
Khan al Ahmar Update: Recent Developments
On August 1, Israel’s High Court of Justice held a hearing on the two petitions that were submitted to prevent the demolition of the Bedouin village of Khan al Ahmar (see our last report). During that hearing, the court reiterated its decision of last May authorizing the evacuation of the village’s residents and the demolition […]
Tenders Published for 603 New Units in Ramat Shlomo
On August 15, a new tender was announced and appeared on the Israel Lands Authority website, for 603 new housing units in the East Jerusalem settlement of Ramat Shlomo (assuming families with an average of four children – a conservative estimate for an Orthodox settlement – this works out to nearly 2500 new residents). The […]
Temple Mt/Haram al Sharif: Jewish Visits, & Tensions, Continue to Increase
More than 1000 Jewish visitors entered the Temple Mount/Haram Al Sharif compound on Tisha B’av, the annual commemoration of the destruction of the two Temples (which this year took place on July 22nd). Yaraeh – an organization encouraging Jews to visit the Temple Mount and pressing for a change in Israeli policy to allow Jewish […]
Israeli Govt Opens New Jewish “Heritage Center” in Silwan
On August 1, Israeli Minister of Culture, Miri Regev, and Minister for Jerusalem Affairs, Ze’ev Elkin, celebrated the opening of the “Yemenite Jewish Heritage Center” in the heart of the Palestinian neighborhood of Silwan. Regev provocatively stated during the ceremony, was unequivocal in denying the Palestinian historical ties and rights to Jerusalem: “Look around. We […]
Major New Plans Approved for Pisgat Ze’ev
On July 2nd, the Jerusalem District Planning Board approved for deposit for public review 1064 new units, as part of 6 new plans in the East Jerusalem settlement neighborhood of Pisgat Ze’ev. The approval of the plans sparks a number of observations: Numerically speaking, this is a very large approval. These 1064 units constitute a […]
Khan al-Ahmar Demolition Postponed
As has been widely reported by international media, Israel’s imminent demolition of the Bedouin village of Khan Al-Ahmar has provoked significant international protest, with key countries, most notably European states, condemning the planned action as a grave violation of international law. With this mobilization of Europe and the UN as the backdrop, alongside unusually strong […]