Israeli settler group submits proposals for new Jewish settlement in Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood

Tap a highlight to see why it matters.2 findings

An Israeli settler movement has submitted an application for a new Jewish neighbourhood in the Sheikh Jarrah area of East Jerusalem. The Amara movement submitted a proposal to the planning association to build a Jewish neighbourhood comprising 122 housing units at the former site of the Shepherd Hotel. The Shepherd Hotel, often referred to as the "Mufti's House", was originally built in the 1930s for the former mufti of Jerusalem, Haj Amin al-Husseini, though he never actually lived there.

It was demolished in 2009. The application is scheduled for an initial hearing before Jerusalem’s Local Planning and Building Committee on 11 November. Founded in the 1970s, Amara has been one of the prime driving forces behind settlement expansion in the occupied Palestinian territories, but this latest development would be its first settlement in Sheikh Jarrah. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters The news comes as Israeli forces launched a widespread operation targeting the West Bank city of Hebron.

Left out here: Hedges the documented record

The article turns on a new settlement in East Jerusalem but never says that the International Court of Justice found Israel's settlements in East Jerusalem illegal and the occupation unlawful. Without this, a reader may take the application and its planning hearing as a lawful municipal process rather than a step in an illegal settlement project.

How we know

On the recordThe International Court of Justice's July 2024 advisory opinion found Israel's occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem unlawful.icj-cij.org (opens in a new tab)
On the recordThe International Court of Justice's July 2024 advisory opinion found Israel's settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem illegal under international law.icj-cij.org (opens in a new tab)

Israeli forces have detained at least 20 Palestinians during the ongoing military siege, which has also led to the displacement of more than 2,200 people. Another East Jerusalem neighbourhood is demolished as the world fails to act Read More » The Palestinian news agency Wafa reported that Israeli forces stormed most neighbourhoods of Hebron, raided and searched homes, and subjected citizens to abuse before detaining several Palestinians.

The forces also raided the towns of Dura, Yatta and as-Samu, south of Hebron, detaining 11 Palestinians after storming their homes and mistreating them. Two more Palestinians were detained in Tarqumiya, west of Hebron, along with others from the town of Halhul to the north. Wafa reported that Israeli forces turned several Palestinian homes into barracks and observation posts. The news agency said troops took over homes in the Khallat Manna and Dahiyat al-Zaytoun areas of southern Hebron to be used as barracks.

Read the original article on middleeasteye.net

What we found (2)

Middle East Eye reports a settler group's plan for a settlement in Sheikh Jarrah and an Israeli occupation forces raid on Hebron, naming the actors throughout. In two body sentences it calls the settlement a "Jewish neighbourhood" in its own voice, though the headline and a later sentence call it a settlement. It never tells the reader that settlements in occupied East Jerusalem are illegal.

Uses the occupation's words
Minor
“a new Jewish neighbourhood”
Why this matters
MEE calls the planned settlement "a new Jewish neighbourhood" in its own voice, with no attribution to the settler group's application.
The impression it gives
A reader of this sentence may take the project for ordinary urban housing in a city district.
The context
The outlet's own headline and a later sentence call it a settlement in occupied territory. The softer word sits in the opening line, which many readers take as the summary.
How we know
- In the headline“proposals for new Jewish settlement”
- Elsewhere in the article“its first settlement in Sheikh Jarrah”
- On the recordThe International Court of Justice's July 2024 advisory opinion found Israel's settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem illegal under international law.icj-cij.org (opens in a new tab)
Show it in the article
“to build a Jewish neighbourhood comprising 122 housing units”
Why this matters
MEE repeats "Jewish neighbourhood" when it gives the size of the project. It does not mark the phrase as the applicant's wording.
The impression it gives
A reader takes 122 housing units as a neighbourhood development, not a settlement.
The context
The project is a settlement in occupied East Jerusalem, as MEE itself says in S6. Settlements there are illegal under international law.
How we know
- Elsewhere in the article“driving forces behind settlement expansion”
- On the recordThe International Court of Justice's July 2024 advisory opinion found Israel's settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem illegal under international law.icj-cij.org (opens in a new tab)
Show it in the article
Hedges the documented record
Minor
What is missing
The article turns on a new settlement in East Jerusalem but never says that the International Court of Justice found Israel's settlements in East Jerusalem illegal and the occupation unlawful. Without this, a reader may take the application and its planning hearing as a lawful municipal process rather than a step in an illegal settlement project.
How we know
- On the recordThe International Court of Justice's July 2024 advisory opinion found Israel's occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem unlawful.icj-cij.org (opens in a new tab)
- On the recordThe International Court of Justice's July 2024 advisory opinion found Israel's settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem illegal under international law.icj-cij.org (opens in a new tab)
Show where it belongs

What it gets right

“settlement expansion in the occupied Palestinian territories”
MEE names the territories as occupied and calls the activity settlement expansion in its own voice.
“Israeli forces have detained at least 20 Palestinians during the ongoing military siege”
MEE names who detained whom and calls the Hebron raid a military siege rather than a security operation.
“troops took over homes in the Khallat Manna and Dahiyat al-Zaytoun areas of southern Hebron”
MEE names the actor and the specific places where Palestinian homes were seized.

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Israeli settler group submits proposals for new Jewish settlement in Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood

Uses the occupation's words

Hedges the documented record

What it gets right

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