By Muslim Mirror Staff
The Israeli government has dramatically accelerated the pace of expanding illegal settlements in occupied East Jerusalem since the start of its genocide in Gaza, according to planning documents reviewed by The Guardian, which detail that over 20 projects totaling thousands of housing units have been “approved or advanced.”
The surge in settlement activities has primarily been concentrated in neighborhoods like Sheikh Jarrah, Silwan, and the historic Old City, areas that are predominantly Palestinian. Reports indicate that hundreds of new housing units have been approved or are under construction, with plans for thousands more in the coming years. This scale of development is unparalleled in recent years, both in terms of speed and magnitude.
The expansion of settlements in East Jerusalem is viewed by the international community as a violation of international law, particularly the Fourth Geneva Convention, which prohibits the transfer of civilian populations into occupied territories. It further undermines the prospects for a negotiated two-state solution, a longstanding goal of international diplomacy to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The Israeli government, on the other hand, defends these developments as a matter of national and historical right, asserting Jerusalem as the “undivided” capital of Israel. This stance is fiercely opposed by Palestinians, who see East Jerusalem as the future capital of their own independent state.
The rapid expansion of settlements has had a profound impact on the Palestinian residents of East Jerusalem. Many have faced forced evictions from their homes, as Israeli authorities use legal and bureaucratic means to facilitate the takeover of properties by settler organizations. This has led to heightened tensions and clashes between Palestinian residents and Israeli security forces.
Moreover, the expansion has resulted in the fragmentation of Palestinian communities, restricting their movement and access to essential services, including healthcare and education. The construction of new roads and infrastructure for settlers often comes at the expense of Palestinian neighborhoods, further marginalizing and isolating them.
The international community has expressed growing alarm over the escalating settlement activities in East Jerusalem. The United Nations, European Union, and several individual countries have issued statements condemning the expansion as a major obstacle to peace and urging Israel to halt all settlement construction immediately.
“The fast-tracking of these plans has been unparalleled in the last six months … While many government bodies were shuttered or had limited operation following 7 October, the planning authorities continued to plow forward, advancing these plans at unprecedented speed,” Sari Kronish, from Israeli human rights group Bimkom – Planners for Planning Rights, told the British daily. ( With Agencies Inputs )
There must be a two state solution.
Separate with clear boundaries
observed and respected.
Why couldn’t UN intervene?