East Jerusalem Under the Cover of War: Acceleration of New Settlements Juxtaposed with a Stark Rise in Home Demolitions

Since the outbreak of the war six months ago, there has been a major surge in the promotion and fast-tracking of new settlement plans in East Jerusalem and a dramatic spike in the rate of demolitions of Palestinian homes. The Israeli government is clearly exploiting the war to create more facts on the ground to predetermine the final status of Jerusalem and thwart all prospects for a negotiated political agreement, while forcibly displacing Palestinians from their homes and the city.

Measures are being taken to establish eight brand-new settlements in East Jerusalem within or adjacent to Palestinian neighborhoods with a total of over 12,000 housing units. For details and analysis of these plans, click here or above for the full policy brief.

In juxtaposition to this major uptick in the advancement of new settlements, demolitions of Palestinian homes have reached unparalleled levels since the start of the war. This serves as a form of collective punishment and part of a series of repressive measures currently being employed by Israel against Palestinians under its control. Between October 7, 2023—March 10, 2024, 98 homes were demolished, which marks a nearly two-fold monthly increase compared to the period preceding the war. (Demolitions were halted during the month of Ramadan as in the past).

While several countries have recently imposed sanctions on settlers who have perpetrated violence or forced Palestinians from their lands in the West Bank, an equal if not greater magnitude of violence and displacement of Palestinians is carried out by state bodies, especially in East Jerusalem. One of the most severe expressions of this is the policy of demolitions and housing deprivation, which constitutes a form of state violence and increasingly serves as a tool of Palestinian displacement under the guise of building regulation enforcement. Such a practice is not only a violation of International Law with severe humanitarian consequences, but also breeds more enmity, radicalization, and violence among the population. The unwavering support and military aid which Israel continues to enjoy while defying international demands to cease measures, like home demolitions and settlement activity, further embolden the Israeli government and erode conditions for a just political resolution, which will secure freedom, equality, peace, and security for both peoples living in this land.
 
In parallel to re-charting a path towards a negotiated solution, it is critical to also address the here and the now - the current one-state reality of systematic oppression and unequal rights in Jerusalem that is a direct result of Israeli policies and practices on the ground. As the occupying power, the Israeli government bears the responsibility to afford East Jerusalem residents with the most fundamental rights, while refraining from measures that undermine these rights and unilaterally determine the political future of the city. In the immediate term, this must include holding Israel accountable to stop settlement building, end all processes of Palestinian displacement, and afford Palestinians with the basic right to shelter through promoting housing opportunities and residential development.

Click here for the full brief.