PASSIA: Jerusalem Chronology

Period following the DOP: The Issue of Jerusalem after Oslo

Art.V of the DoP states that "permanent status negotiations will commence as soon as possible but not later than the beginning of the third year of the interim period... these negotiations shall cover remaining issues, including Jerusalem, refugees, settlements, security arrangements, borders...". And "The two parties agree that the outcome of the permanent status negotiations should not be prejudiced or preempted by agreements reached for the interim period." The Israeli government has repeatedly asserted that Palestinians even raising the Jerusalem issue is a blatant breach of the agreement. It has threatened sanctions against Palestinian institutions in the city, refused to discuss even basic issues of human rights and ignored Art. V of the DoP by continuing its settlement policy, house demolitions and other violations in Arab Jerusalem.

1993

Sept.16: The West Jerusalem Municipality (WJM) approves construction of new settlement Har Homa on Jabal Abu Ghneim, Sur Baher and Um Tuba village land. Plans include a road on the eastern side of Gilo settlement.
- Al-Quds reports construction of 200 units in "Rekhes Shu’fat" on Shufat village land to link Pisgat Ze'ev and Ramat Eshkol settlements.
- Israel seizes 200 dunums of land to expand Atarot industrial area, an area where Palestinians are prohibited from constructing.
- Al-Quds reports approval of a new settlement east of Jabal Mukabber; contract was given to Israeli Abud Levy to construct 400 housing units on Palestinian land belonging to Ahmad Zahayka.
Sept. 24: Israeli media sources report construction of 1500 new housing units in Ramat Rachel settlement, south of Jerusalem, approved by the Regional Council for Planning and Construction. Also construction at Rekhes Shufat is under way (on 447 dunums of land confiscated from Shufat village).
Sept. 29: WJM approves construction of a new settlement in the densely populated Ras al-Amud neighbourhood; 130 housing units are planned on 13,5 dunums of land opposite the Israeli police station. Sept. 1993: Construction on the eastern extension of Ma'ale Adumim settlement begins. Nearby settling Jahalin bedouins (expelled from the Negev in 1950) are driven off the land they have dwelled on for 40 years, and forced to encamp on a bare, rocky mountaintop. Israeli authorities claim that the Jahalin live "illegally" on "state land".
- Khaled Hammad Abu I'qeis from Jerusalem is beaten by Israeli soldiers at the Bethlehem checkpoint; released after an hour and a half and treated at Hussein Hospital.
- The Israeli army declares Hebron University a closed military zone before a gathering called for by the Islamic bloc was scheduled to take place to discuss "The conspiracy against Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa".
- Confiscation of 850 dunums of land of Bir Nabala village announced. 70% of the village's agricultural land belonging to over 4,000 residents is concerned as well as parts of the cemetery. The plan is part of what is known as RJ-5 plan.
- The Regional Planning and Construction Council approves construction of 1500 housing units on 260 dunums of West Bank land reallotted to the WJM, linking Talpiot West (inside the Green Line) to Talpiot East (West Bank). On 130,000 m2.
- Israeli authorities seal 2 houses in Shufat RC, the owners of which were allegedly involved in the killing of an Israeli woman.
- For Rosh Hashana celebrations, Israel imposes 4-day complete closure on Jerusalem.
Oct. 2: Teddy Kollek states that postponing negotiations on the status of Jerusalem for three years is one of the greatest achievements of Rabin's government. Adding this time should be used to increase the Jewish population in the city.
Oct. 12: The 25-years old house of Mohammed Suleiman Ali Khatib, home of 11, is demolished in Hizma village in the area allocated for Givat Ze’ev settlement expansion, on the pretext that it was built on confiscated land. The next day, the IDF destroys the family's well and raid the house, in the course of which daughter in law Khadiga miscarries her 3-months old fetus.
- Israeli soldiers uproot 43 trees in East Jerusalem to construct a new settlement road;
- WJM uproots 450 trees in Hizma on land confiscated to expand Pisgat Ze'ev settlement and build a new settlement road.
Oct. 18: Following a demolition order signed by Teddy Kollek, Israeli forces destroy the new house of the Rajabi family, home of 21, in Kfar Aqab for being built illegally and too close to a "green area" (where building is forbidden). While the area is put under curfew, the family is given 5 minutes to bring some of their property out of the house.
Oct. 21: During a visit to the USA, Housing Min. Ben Eliezer announces construction of 13,000 new housing units, mainly in the Har Homa, Ramot, Gilo and Pisgat Ze'ev settlements.
Oct. 1993: Joint Palestinian-Israeli demonstration held in Ras al-Amud to protest the WJM's plan to built a settlement there on 17 dunums.
- The PLO files an official complaint against an Israeli High Court decision stipulating that the Al-Aqsa compound is "part of Israel".
- 375 dunums of Anata village are confiscated for settlement increase.
- The extremist 'Temple Mount Faithful' group files a High Court complaint against the Islamic Waqf claiming that the renovation at the Dome of the Rock is illegal since not authorized by Israel.
- 30 Jewish settler families move in to new Kiryat Sefer settlement on West Bank land close to Jerusalem.
- The WJM has filed or prepared 14,000 lawsuits against East Jerusalem Palestinians who have not paid arnona tax. The WJM has launched a campaign to seize stores and confiscate goods from businesses and houses to hold until payment.
Nov. 2: Ehud Olmert (Likud) wins Jerusalem mayoral elections by 60-34% vote, defeating Teddy Kollek after 28 years; says he will expand the city "to the east".
Nov. 3: Olmert declares that "every Jew can purchase property anywhere in Jerusalem" and that he will "ensure complete rule of the people of Israel over the entire city".
Nov. 7: 2 busloads of about 100 settlers attack Palestinian houses and stores between Pisgat Ze'ev/ Neve Ya'akov and Dahiet al-Barid.
Nov. 11: Jerusalem Post reports that an government-appointed committee approved a new settlement bloc "Gush Adumim" linking settlements stretching from the southeast to northeast of Jerusalem (Amon, Kfar Adumim, Mishor Adumim, Ma'ale Adumim,Kedar) and extending east-ward to Mitzpe Yeriho settlement. The plan involves confiscation of 5,000 dunums of Palestinian land belonging to Za'im, Anata, Issawiyeh, Izzariya and Abu Dis villages.
Nov. 12: Israeli troops shoot dead Mohammed Said Othman Abdul Latif Sa'ed from Nablus as he tried to enter Jerusalem on foot near the Dahiat al-Barid checkpoint.
Nov. 17: Israeli authorities destroy the house and most of the furniture of Adnan Mohammed Abu Nijmeh in Wadi Qaddoum, Silwan, under the pretext of being build illegally.
Nov. 22: An-Nahar reports planned construction of 2,400 housing units in Rekhes Shufat settlement.
Nov. 1993: The WJM destroys 3 houses in Beit Hanina for being built illegally (ordered by Kollek a month before).
- The Islamic Waqf is summoned to the Israeli High Court regarding the suit filed by the right-wing Temple Mount Faithful, demanding to halt renovation work on Al-Aqsa mosque, challenging the Waqf's authority over Islamic holy sites.
Dec. 5: A settler waiting in the congested lines at Dahiet al-Barid checkpoint fires at a Palestinian bus which refused to let him cut into the queue of cars.
Dec. 6: Settlers stop Adli Ghazawneh in his car near Kalandia Airport and beat him up. Ghazawneh was hospitalized.
Dec. 10: The Israeli government finalises plans to expand Givat Zeev settlement on Beit Iksa land and connect it with Ramat settlement; construction on 600 (out of 2,200 planned) housing units have begun.
Dec. 16: Israeli forces destroy the house of the Abu Shafe' family with all its belongings in Wadi Qad-doum for being built illegally.
Dec. 21: Israeli forces destroy the house of Hasan Hirbawi, home of 8, in Wadi Yasoul/Thori for being built illegally.
Dec. 28: Israeli forces destroy Shaher Afanah’s home of 12, in Sur Baher for being built ‘unlicensed’.
Dec. 1993: 6,000 dunums of land from Bir Nabala, Al-Jib, Beit Hanina and Nabi Samuel is confiscates, to establish a "National Park."
- About 50 right-wing Mks and their supporters approach Orient House.
- 5 military raids occur in Jerusalem during December 1993.