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 […]
The Wadi Hummus demolitions: unlike anything witnessed to date
On June 11, the High Court of Justice rejected a suit filed by the residents of the East Jerusalem Palestinian neighborhood of Sur Bahir that moved to forbid the demolition of 13 buildings located in Wadi Al Hummus, on the southern perimeter of the neighborhood. The area in question differs from the other sections of Sur Bahir. […]
Clashes on Temple Mount/Haram El Sharif at the end of Ramadan/Jerusalem Day
Context: what is Jerusalem Day? Traditionally, Jerusalem Day is the official state holiday commemorating the “reunification of Jerusalem” in 1967. With the ascendancy of an increasingly extreme religious right in the city and beyond, Jerusalem Day has turned into a highly nationalistic celebration, associated almost exclusively to that religious right, dotted with a couple of […]
Final ruling validates the lease of three properties to settlers group at the Jaffa Gate
The Israeli High Court rejected the appeal of the Greek Orthodox Church, reaffirming the 2017 verdict of the Jerusalem District Court which validated the lease of three sites located in the Old City close to the Jaffa Gate to settler group Ateret Cohanim. The Supreme Court determined that the Greek Orthodox Church did not submit sufficient evidence […]
The Opening of Trade Offices in Jerusalem
Hungary opening of trade diplomatic office in Jerusalem First diplomatic mission to be opened in Jerusalem by an EU member state – On March 19, Hungary opened a trade diplomatic mission in Jerusalem, stressing the fact that the mission has diplomatic status. This constitutes the most significant deviation to date from the longstanding EU policy regarding the political […]
Joint statement of Pope Francis and Morocco’s King Mohammed VI
On March 30, at the opportunity of the Pope’s visit to Morocco, King Mohammed VI and Pope Francis issued a joint statement, reportedly unscheduled, about the need to protect and preserve freedom of worship for the three monotheistic religions: “We consider it important to preserve the Holy City of Jerusalem/Al-Quds Acharif as the common patrimony of […]
Demolitions in Shuafat
Shuafat was again targeted, twice: a school was demolished on March 19 and a residential building was demolished in April 2. Until a year ago Israeli authorities were avoiding entering Shuafat to demolish structures located beyond the separation barrier (but within Jerusalem municipal boundaries). It seems that since the Israeli police demolished 21 shops last November, this kind of operations has […]