
Rising Jewish Settlements: The Expansion of Jerusalem’s Jewish Presence
Settlement construction in and around East Jerusalem has dramatically increased in 2023, with plans for thousands of new Israeli homes that threaten to fragment Palestinian neighborhoods and isolate them from each other. Key projects include Nof Zahav in Jabal Mukabbir, which would expand a luxury settlement within a Palestinian area, and the E1 Development Plan, which would divide the West Bank and block the possibility of a contiguous Palestinian state. Other significant plans include the Kidmat Tzion settlement in Abu Dis, aimed at undermining Palestinian claims to Jerusalem, and new settlements in Sharafat, Beit Safafa, and al-Walaja, which would further sever Palestinian access to Jerusalem and agricultural lands, deepening the region's fragmentation. These developments are seen as part of a broader strategy to solidify Israeli control while limiting Palestinian territorial continuity.
This entry is original published by My Jerusalem Story .