Jerusalem: The jewel in the crown - opinion
To safeguard Jerusalem and save its options for peace, international law must be upheld and the occupation must end.
On the eve of Yom Kippur, a reporter strolled through Jerusalem's bustling Mahaneh Yehuda market, pondering the silence surrounding Israel's treatment of Palestinians in east Jerusalem. Since 1967, Israel has subjected these residents to a series of crimes against humanity and war crimes, yet few are aware or willing to apologize.
This divide stems from Israel's "maximum land, minimum population" policy, which dominated the planning of newly conquered east Jerusalem. Only 13% of the 70 square kilometers of newly configured east Jerusalem was designated for Palestinian residential purposes, leaving the majority of Palestinians living in "illegal" structures, paying city taxes, yet confined to land zoned for green areas or Israeli settlements.
Consequently, Palestinians face a severe housing shortage, often forced to relocate to northern Jerusalem due to the impending collapse of high-rise slums. Israeli peace NGO Ir Amim's report, "Planned Negligence," reveals that a third of east Jerusalemites have been displaced, with Israel's 2040 Strategic Plan offering little in the way of solutions for Palestinian neighborhoods.
One settler, Arieh King, even advocates for the demolition of all "illegal" buildings in east Jerusalem, estimating that 20,000 structures need to be demolished. Another settler, leading Ma aleh Hazeitim settlement, has accelerated demolitions in Al-Bustan neighborhood, turning it into a virtual ghost town reminiscent of Gaza. The international community's failure to address the "Judaization" and "de-Palestinization" of Jerusalem, which is integral to ensuring the viability of a two-state solution, has been glaringly absent.
The two issues are inextricably linked – the removal of Palestinians from Jerusalem is integral to the survival of the two-state solution. The international community must acknowledge this pressing issue and act accordingly, lest Jerusalem become a casualty of ethnic cleansing and the two-state solution becomes a mere historical relic.
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
