East Jerusalem

Palestinian students at an UNRWA school in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Silwan, Jan. 30, 2024. (Jamal Awad/Flash90)

Israel claims to care about Palestinian students — so it shuts down their schools

The Education Ministry ordered UNRWA-run schools in East Jerusalem to close, citing ‘student welfare.’ 800 may lose their classrooms this month.

By Gil Gertel May 6, 2025

Salah Diab in his home in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood in East Jerusalem, March 4, 2025. (Oren Ziv)

He led the fight to save Sheikh Jarrah for 15 years. Now he faces his own eviction

After more than a decade of legal battles, an Israeli court ruled that settlers can take over Salah Diab's lifelong home. But he refuses to give up fighting.

By Oren Ziv March 14, 2025

Israeli forces destroy a building in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Beit Hanina, Feb. 20, 2024. (Jamal Awad/Flash90)

Israeli demolitions of Palestinian homes in Jerusalem hit new record

In 2024, Israel destroyed 181 homes and approved the fewest Palestinian building plans in a decade, while greenlighting thousands of settlement units.

By Georgia Gee and Dikla Taylor-Sheinman March 6, 2025

Latest

Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA Commissioner-General, meets with internally displaced people in Rafah during his visit to the Gaza Strip, Dec. 12, 2023 (UNRWA Photo)

‘If UNRWA implodes tomorrow, there’d be no alternative’

Still functioning despite Israel's ban, UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini explains how the agency is laying the groundwork for future Palestinian institutions.

By Ghousoon Bisharat and Meron Rapoport February 27, 2025

Mahmoud and Ahmad Muna appear in court after their arrest during an Israeli police raid of their Educational Bookshop in East Jerusalem, Feb. 10, 2025. (Oren Ziv)

The day Israel came for the booksellers

With a Palestinian coloring book as proof of 'incitement,' Israeli police raided East Jerusalem's world-famous Educational Bookshop and arrested its owners.

By Oren Ziv February 11, 2025

Israeli security forces destroy a house in Silwan, February 14, 2024. (Jamal Awad/Flash90)

Under cover of war, Israel is demolishing home after home in Silwan

The government has accelerated plans to depopulate the East Jerusalem neighborhood, displacing dozens of Palestinian residents this year.

By Jessica Buxbaum September 6, 2024

Mourners attend the funeral of four Palestinians killed by Israeli drone strikes in the Nur Shams refugee camp, Tulkarm, occupied West Bank, March 21, 2024. (Wahaj Bani Moufleh/Activestills)

From the river to the sea, Israel is waging the same war

The Gaza assault cannot be understood separately from Israel’s divide-and-conquer strategy against Palestinians in Jenin, Jerusalem, and Nazareth.

By Orly Noy April 26, 2024

Fatma Salem speaks during a solidarity gathering in Sheikh Jarrah, occupied East Jerusalem. (Yahel Gazit)

‘A gentle, powerful light’: Honoring a symbol of Sheikh Jarrah’s steadfastness

Fatma Salem died with the threat of settler takeover still hanging over her family. But she never cowered to the forces that sought to displace her.

By Yahel Gazit January 12, 2024

Israeli police guard while Palestinians arrive to Friday prayers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, at the Lion's Gate in Jerusalem's Old City, October 13, 2023. (Jamal Awad/Flash90)

Israel’s ‘thought police’ law ramps up dangers for Palestinian social media users

Rights advocates warn the draconian law will enable unprecedented surveillance, raising Palestinian fears of arrest for their online activity.

By Sophia Goodfriend November 24, 2023

Rafat Sub-Laban protesting outside his family's home in the Old City of Jerusalem, after they were expelled to make way for Jewish settlers, July 11, 2023. (Yahel Gazit)

‘Israel wanted a silent, perfect victim. We refused’

After settlers took over his family's home in Jerusalem’s Old City last month, Rafat Ghaith-Sub Laban reflects on the hardships and lessons of their struggle.

By Yahel Gazit August 15, 2023

Participants in Nour Palestina's DJ workshop at Sabreen, occupied East Jerusalem. (Alice Austin)

Spinning discs in Sheikh Jarrah

Led by Nour Palestina, a DJ workshop offers Palestinian women a window into the electronic music world despite the occupation.

By Alice Austin August 8, 2023

Police arrest Gil Hammerschlag at a protest in Sheikh Jarrah, occupied East Jerusalem, April 2, 2023. (Shai Kendler/Megaphone News)

An Israeli activist was thrown in jail for a week — over a hat

Police arrested Gil Hammerschlag in Jerusalem, after he attended a protest wearing a cap featuring a photo of a Palestinian shot dead by Israeli forces.

By Oren Ziv July 11, 2023

Christian pilgrims take part in the traditional Palm Sunday procession on the Mount of Olives, occupied East Jerusalem, March 28, 2021. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

The new national park threatening Jerusalem’s Christian community

Concerns are building that Israel's new government will revive controversial plans to take over Palestinian- and church-owned land on the Mount of Olives.

By Judith Sudilovsky January 23, 2023