Paving the Way for Annexation?
On February 19, the IDF distributed 40 orders “to cease construction” in Al Khan Al Ahmar, a Bedouin village located northeast of Jerusalem, between Maale Adumim and Kfar Adumim, north of Road No. 1 (within what Netanyahu and others consider the “Maale Adumim bloc and as part of “Greater Jerusalem”). Details are as follows: The orders target, […]
Work Starting on Eastern Ring Road?
Al Jazeera is reporting that demolition orders have been handed down to Palestinians in East Jerusalem, in connection with the goal of building a major new road cutting through the East Jerusalem Palestinian neighborhood of Jabal Mukaber. In addition, we have noted the beginning of construction of a new interchange at the A-Zayyem junction on the Jerusalem-Maaleh […]
East Jerusalem Settlement Activity & the Onset of the Trump Era: What to Watch
East Jerusalem Settlement Activity & the Onset of the Trump Era: What to Watch
In recent weeks, the main focus of concern regarding Jerusalem has been the question: will President Trump move the U.S. embassy in Israel to Jerusalem? Our in-depth analysis of the implications of such a move is here. In parallel, another highly problematic issue has been at the fore of the Israeli government’s agenda: legislation for the […]
Moving the U.S. Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem: A Hard Look at the Arguments & Implications
The political status of Jerusalem has long been the third rail in the Israeli-Palestinian arena, and the controversy surrounding the question of moving the U.S. embassy from its current location in Tel Aviv to Israel’s declared capital of Jerusalem has long been emblematic of that volatility. For years, U.S. Presidential candidates regularly promised to make […]
Rumors & Lobbying Around Possible US Embassy Relocation to Jerusalem
Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat is actively lobbying the incoming U.S. administration of Donald Trump to fulfill Trump’s campaign promise to move the US embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Barkat made that case in an interview he gave to the New York Times during his recent visit to New York. He also reportedly used that […]
Netanyahu Rejects Police Recommendations to Tweak Temple Mt Status Quo
For the second time in as many months, Prime Minister Netanyahu has rejected a recommendation from the Israeli police to remove some of the restrictions imposed on Jewish visits to the Temple Mount/Haram El Sharif. The first time was a the end of October, when Netanyahu refused to accept a recommendation made by the Chief of Police to re-open […]
Batan al-Hawa – New B’tselem Report on Settler Activities
The Israeli human rights organization B’tselem recently published an important new report on the settlers’ aggressive takeover of the Batan al-Hawa neighborhood in Silwan. Within the framework of that report, B’tselem conducted a significant survey, in which it mapped the parcels of land that have been targeted for evictions by the settlers, with the help of the […]
Final Approval of Gilo Expansion – 770 New Units (Mordot Gilo South)
On December 7, the Jerusalem Local Planning and Building Committee gave its final approval for the expansion of the East Jerusalem settlement of Gilo, paving the way for construction of 770 new units under Town Plan 175505. Some background: In previous IJ’s we have reported on plans for expansion of Gilo, including Town Plan 175505, […]
UNESCO Resolutions on the Old City & Its Walls: Analysis
Jerusalem was in the spotlight last month, in the context of two separate votes in UNESCO on resolutions related to the status of the city. The first vote took place on October 12, on a resolution the passage of which sparked objections from Israel and generated widespread controversy and condemnations. The second vote took place on October […]