East Jerusalem

Backgrounder The West Side Story, Part 1: Jerusalem before “East” and “West”

Before 1948, Jerusalem was not split between an “East” and a “West.” Rather, a cosmopolitan, multiethnic New City grew organically out of the Old City.

Backgrounder Al-Jidar: An Instrument of Fragmentation

Twenty years on, Israel’s Separation Wall has wholly reconfigured the geopolitical fabric of Jerusalem and its hinterland, shattering Palestinian communities, families, and lives.

Personal Story Life and Death in al-‘Izariyya

The Separation Wall blocks the village of al-‘Izariyya from Jerusalem, restricting its residents’ access to their city, and inevitably leading to family tragedy.

Feature Story Internal Closure Imposed on Sheikh Jarrah

Closure is not only imposed on Palestinian access to the city of Jerusalem as a whole; it is also imposed on Palestinian access to their own neighborhoods—in this case, Sheikh Jarrah in East Jerusalem.

Blog Post A Love Story from East Jerusalem: Majd and Fatima

An East Jerusalem love story that survived more than 20 years of involuntary separation

Blog Post Sophia’s World Comes Crashing Down

Sophia Abdo, 10, copes as best she can in the aftermath of the demolition of her family home, as ordered by the municipality.

Backgrounder Jerusalem: A Closed City

Closure, a “temporary” measure introduced in 1991, is the system that controls Palestinians’ movement and blocks millions from accessing Jerusalem.

Bio Ruhi al-Khatib

Jerusalemite who dedicated his life to public service and strengthening the city, including as mayor 1957–67; popularly known as the “Amin of Jerusalem”