DayofPal– Israel is pushing forward with policies aimed at altering the demographic and geographic landscape of occupied Jerusalem, using systematic measures to Judaize the city and erase its Islamic identity.
These efforts have intensified through massive settlement projects and decisions designed to extend Israeli control over Palestinian neighborhoods and towns.
A significant new plan now threatens to reshape the region further. The Israeli government is set to approve a controversial law that would formally annex settlements surrounding Jerusalem, forming what is being called “Greater Jerusalem.”
This move would incorporate large settlement blocs, built illegally on Palestinian land, into the city’s municipal boundaries, reinforcing Israel’s grip on the occupied capital.
On Sunday, the Israeli Ministerial Committee for Legislation approved a highly contentious bill aimed at annexing major settlements, including Ma’ale Adumim, Beitar Illit, Givat Ze’ev, Efrat, and Ma’ale Michmash.
These settlements, strategically located to the north, east, and south of Jerusalem, lie deep within the occupied West Bank. The proposed law would not only solidify Israel’s control over these areas but also pave the way for further annexation projects across the West Bank.
Simultaneously, Israeli authorities have issued demolition orders for all 45 homes in the Palestinian village of Al-Nu’man, northeast of Jerusalem, along with the village mosque, under the pretext of unauthorized construction.
Nasser Al-Hadmi, head of the Jerusalem Anti-Judaization Committee, warned that Israel is intensifying efforts to alter the city’s demographic and geographic makeup. Speaking to Al-Resalah, Al-Hadmi explained that the annexation of these large settlements is designed to marginalize the Palestinian presence in Jerusalem.
“This law marks a dangerous escalation in Israel’s Judaization policies. It seeks to impose full Israeli sovereignty over Jerusalem in blatant violation of international law,” he said.
He further noted that the move is intended to cut off Jerusalem from its Palestinian surroundings, stripping Palestinians of any political or demographic significance in the city.
“This requires a stronger Palestinian and international response to counter these plans, which threaten the city’s future and historical identity,” he added.
Meanwhile, the proposed law includes a particularly alarming clause: the exclusion of Palestinian-populated areas such as Shuafat refugee camp, Anata, and Kafr Aqab, home to around 100,000 Palestinians, from the Jerusalem municipality.
This maneuver would further isolate Palestinians and reduce their influence over the city’s future.
Jerusalem-based researcher Redwan Amr stressed that this legislation represents a significant step in Israel’s long-term strategy to Judaize the holy city.
Amr said that this plan seeks to expand Israel’s dominance by annexing large settlement blocs surrounding Jerusalem, while simultaneously weakening the Palestinian presence.
“It is part of a broader strategy to separate Jerusalem from its Palestinian hinterland and to gradually displace Palestinian residents through forced evictions, home demolitions, and revocation of residency rights,” he added.
Israel has long pursued policies aimed at cementing its control over Jerusalem. In 1980, the Israeli Knesset passed the Basic Law: Jerusalem, Capital of Israel, declaring the entire city, both its eastern and western parts, as Israel’s capital.
Then, in 1993, Israeli authorities outlined a vision for “Greater Jerusalem,” expanding the city’s boundaries to cover 600 square kilometers, nearly 10% of the West Bank.
Since then, Israel has steadily built settlements and infrastructure to realize this vision, effectively blocking any future possibility of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.
As Israel moves closer to enacting this new law, Palestinians fear that it will further entrench occupation policies, deepen their marginalization, and deal another devastating blow to their aspirations for sovereignty in their historic homeland.
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