Specifics of Settler Colonial Violence in Jerusalem

In Jerusalem, the specificities of settler colonial violence are evident in neighborhoods like Sheikh Jarrah. The situation is often framed as a real estate dispute, but it is a result of settler organizations claiming ownership of Palestinian homes and the backing of the Israeli government and judicial system. Palestinians face land theft and displacement in their own neighborhoods. Another example is the town of Silwan, where Palestinian Jerusalemites are denied building permits, forcing them to build without permission. The Israeli municipality rejects 97% of building permit applications by Palestinians, while settlers expand their Jewish-only colonies. In the south Hebron Hills, the Bedouin community in Massafriya faces eviction, as their ancestral lands have been designated as firing zones by the Israeli government. These examples highlight the ongoing expulsion and displacement Palestinians face due to settler colonial policies.