Demolitions at the Ancient Bab al-Rahma Cemetery?
In recent days, there have been widespread reports, particularly in the Arab press, to the effect that graves located in the ancient Muslim Bab al-Rahma cemetery, owned and run by the Waqf and located along the eastern ramparts of the Old City, north of the Lion Gate, have been destroyed by Israeli Nature and Parks Authority (INPA). […]
Connecting Tel Aviv to the Western Wall?
Minister of Transportation Israel Katz recently announced that the high-speed train line that is to connect Tel Aviv to Jerusalem by the beginning of 2018 should be extended to the Western Wall, near which an underground stop should be built, according to his vision. How serious is this? At this stage, Katz’s plan seems to be not more than […]
2016 High Holidays: Record Numbers of Jewish Visitors on Temple Mount/Haram al Sharif
A record number of 3000 non-Muslim visitors ascended the Temple Mount/Haram El Sharif during the Jewish High Holidays this year (October 3 and October 25, including the Jewish New Year celebrations and Sukkot). The significant increase in the number of visitors (compared to previous annual figures) is clearly a change in the delicate ecosystem on the Temple […]
The American Role: Interregnum and Post-January 20, 2016
As in so many other fields of endeavor, it is quite clear that the election of Donald Trump is a game changer. However, as yet we have no idea into what the game is morphing. What will be American foreign policy vis-à-vis Jerusalem on and after January 21, 2017? It would be grossly irresponsible to […]
Ban on Mosque Morning Call to Prayer
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu appears determined to advance legislation prohibiting the use of loudspeakers in mosques for the dawn call to prayer in Israel and in East Jerusalem. The bill was initially approved by the Cabinet on November 13 but was blocked by the Ultra-Orthodox party, over concerns that it would also prevent the use of sirens in certain cities that […]
Is Barkat Turning Jerusalem Palestinians into “Human Shields” Against Outpost Evacuations?
Against the backdrop of the pending evacuation of the illegal West Bank outpost of Amona, Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat earlier this month threatened that such a precedent would require him to demolish “thousands” of Palestinian homes in East Jerusalem – homes purportedly built on lands that were owned by Jews prior to 1948. On November 17th, Barkat […]
Announcement of Construction Plan in Mordot Gilo
On November 3rd, the Jerusalem Planning Committee approved building permits for the construction of 181 units in Mordot Gilo West (Plan No 13157). Of the 181 units approved, 113 are the same units previously “approved” on January 13. (Since the developers asked for certain waivers regarding the permit, they were required to publish those waivers and bring […]
OCHA Report: 180 Palestinian Households At Risk for Eviction in East Jerusalem
A number of legal mechanisms have facilitated the establishment of East Jerusalem settlements. The most prominent of these are (a) land expropriations, (b) the abuse of Absentee Property Legislation, and (c) the “recovery” of property that had belonged to Jews prior to 1948. Israeli authorities long ago exhausted the first of these mechanisms, expropriating (as […]
Approval of 500 Units in Ramat Shlomo
On November 23, Jerusalem building committee approved a plan for the construction of 500 units in Ramat Shlomo. The plan in question, Plan number 11094, pertains to construction outside the expropriation lines of Ramat Shlomo. A significant part of the plan is on private land, not Israeli-declared state land, which has complicated and prolonged the planning process. This plan […]
State Comptroller’s Report on Elad
On November 1st, Israel’s State Comptroller published a report criticizing the conduct of three Israeli governmental authorities in the management of their relations with the settler organization known as Elad, which manages the City of David National Park (in Silwan). These authorities are (1) the Israel Nature and Parks Authority, (2) the Israel Antiquities Authority […]