In 2017, Jerusalem was in the headlines and Ir Amim - Israel’s longest standing NGO devoted exclusively to Jerusalem in the context of the conflict - was there:

“Trump recognizes Jerusalem as capital of Israel in reversal of longtime U.S. policy” – Washington Post (December 6)

Ir Amim…

• Shaped the public discourse, from Jerusalem to New York to Paris and Berlin, with its political analysis of repercussions on the city, the people, and the peace process
• Challenged the idea that unilateral recognition of Jerusalem merely acknowledges reality by keeping the social, political, and economic reality of East Jerusalem front and center in its work
• Exposed the true danger triggered by the US action: emboldening Israeli lawmakers who are advancing their own raft of lethal unilateral plans to redraw the borders of the city and fundamentally shift the city’s demographic balance 

“Ministers to vote on bill to annex 19 settlements to Jerusalem” – Jerusalem Post (October 26)

Ir Amim…

• Spotlighted the connections between proposed unilateral plans and the fate of the 120,000 Palestinians of East Jerusalem left on the other side of the Separation Barrier
• Connected the dots between Israeli unilateral plans and proposals and intentions to transfer approximately 120,000 Palestinians – 1/3 of the Palestinian population of the city – from Jerusalem while implementing the de facto annexation of some 140,000 settlers from the adjacent major settlement blocs 
•  Advocated tirelessly in Israel and across the international community to halt plans transparently designed to thwart a two-state solution

“Deadly Violence Erupts in Standoff Over Mosque in Jerusalem” – New York Times (July 21)

Ir Amim…

• Calling upon years of field-based, expert analysis, worked with policy makers to ensure actions to guard the status quo and avert exacerbation of tensions
• Showed the world the underreported story of Palestinians’ civil disobedience and massive street prayers in response to the crisis
• Throughout the year, revealed the increasing influence of Temple Movements activists – religious radicals mission-driven to overturn the status quo – in upsetting security arrangements at the holy site

“Home demolitions continue in East Jerusalem” – Associated Press (September 2017)

Ir Amim…

• Put two years of field research and case study development into a major report – co-authored with partner Bimkom – to establish the root cause of demolitions: enduring, demographically driven discrimination in the planning system designed to thwart Palestinian development
•  Advanced policy recommendations for systemic reform of the planning system to ensure Palestinians have the ability to build and to develop their neighborhoods

With gratitude and wishes for a good new year,

The staff of Ir Amim

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