New Report Release - "Planned Negligence: How Palestinian Neighborhoods Disappeared from Jerusalem's Current and Future Urban Planning Policies"

Against the backdrop of longstanding government neglect of residential development in Palestinian neighborhoods of East Jerusalem, Ir Amim's report specifically analyzes the implications of the Israeli government's long-term housing policy for Jerusalem as part of the "Israel 2040 Strategic Plan." The plan is slated to significantly increase the housing supply across Jerusalem to accommodate the population growth forecast for the coming decades, yet nearly entirely overlooks Palestinian neighborhoods and the dire housing needs of the East Jerusalem Palestinian population.
 
For years, systematic discrimination in planning and building has been manifest in the robust development of Israeli neighborhoods juxtaposed with the under-development and suppression of urban planning in Palestinian neighborhoods, which is often expressed through the intentional neglect to advance outline plans for these areas. In the absence of outline plans, it is impossible to procure building permits, forcing many Palestinians to build without them, which subjects their homes to the threat of demolition.

As the report reveals, not only does the housing plan largely exclude Palestinian neighborhoods, but according to much of its parameters, it cannot even be implemented in these areas. This in turn will only exacerbate the acute housing crisis in East Jerusalem and compound the already existing disparities in residential development between Israeli and Palestinian neighborhoods, leading to further displacement of Palestinians from the city.

Clear here or above for the full paper.