City of David

Tourists look at a view of the Dome of the Rock and the Temple Mount in Jerusalem's Old City, from the Mount of Olives observatory, January 28, 2020. (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)

What my daughter’s school trip taught me about anti-occupation activism

Our liberal Tel Aviv school wanted students to visit a project run by a settler group in occupied East Jerusalem. Here's what I learned from speaking up.

By David Zonsheine December 27, 2022

The Givati Parking Lot excavation grounds next to the City of David National Park in the Palestinian village of Silwan, across the street from the Old City walls surrounding the Al Aqsa mosque compound, July 14, 2019. (Hadas Parush/Flash90)

PODCAST: Excavating Israel’s underground settlements

On the latest episode, Israeli archeologist Yonathan Mizrahi talks about Israel's weaponization of archeology to expand Jewish settlement.

By Natasha Roth-Rowland January 20, 2022

Workers at the City of David archaeological site, near Jerusalem's Old City, on July 22, 2019. (Hadas Parush/Flash90)

In East Jerusalem, the settler project is expanding underground

Elad's politicization of archaeology, most notably through the City of David park in East Jerusalem, erases Palestinians and their history.

By Natasha Roth-Rowland October 23, 2020

Latest

The East Jerusalem neighborhood of Silwan is seen from a protest tent built by local activists, March 3, 2014. (Photo by Ryan Rodrick Beiler/Activestills.org)

In Silwan, the settlers are winning – big time

Seven years of struggle and Silwan’s residents can’t claim even one tangible and clear victory. Not one home has been returned to its original residents, not one settler has left and the police and Israeli authorities continue to target Palestinian residents. By Yonathan Mizrachi The East Jerusalem neighborhood of Silwan got its first-ever community center,…

By +972 Magazine October 1, 2014

An ancient sewer in Silwan (photo: Emek Shaveh)

Israel’s very own tunnels of dread in Jerusalem

While everyone is preoccupied with the Hamas tunnels in Gaza, Israel continues to dig under Palestinian houses in Jerusalem. The excuses are questionable, residents are angry and fearful, and a religious conflagration appears imminent. By Orly Noy With the Hamas tunnels dominating the Israeli narrative for the past several weeks, their inherent danger horrifying the…

By Orly Noy September 6, 2014

Exhibition on loan: How Israel’s cultural institutions contribute to occupation

Even if bringing the Herodium exhibit to the Israel Museum is not identical to wielding physical violence against Palestinians, it seems that in everything that pertains to the West Bank, those in charge exploit resources for their own needs, be it for exhibition or settlement expansion. By Yonatan Mizrachi The exhibition “Herod the Great –…

By +972 Magazine May 4, 2013

The City of David archaeological park, against the background of Silwan (photo: JC/Activestills.org)

Tel Aviv University to cooperate with settler group on East Jerusalem dig

Tel Aviv University’s spokesperson refuses to explain why its archaeologists will work with Elad, an organization notorious for its pursuit of Jewish settlement in East Jerusalem. Haaretz reported on Thursday that Tel Aviv University’s Institute of Archaeology plans to start digging in al-Bustan, located in the Palestinian neighborhood of Silwan in East Jerusalem, in cooperation with…

By Mairav Zonszein October 25, 2012

Activist group opposes cultural events in City of David

While I am not a member of the Sheikh Jarrah Solidarity Movement, I have been active with them and decided to post their appeal as I think it is an important cause and call to action By Silan Dallal and Ella Elbaz-Nir Under the misleading title “Israeli Culture at Heritage Sites” a series of musical…

By Mairav Zonszein August 23, 2011

Riots in Silwan Today. Photo by Joseph Dana

WATCH: Palestinian youth abducted by police in E. Jerusalem

While Israelis are busy pitching tents across the country, in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Silwan, life under occupation goes on as usual, far away from the media’s eyes. In the shocking footage below, taken with a surveillance camera last Friday, July 22, Palestinian teens playing soccer in the street are suddenly abducted by Israeli…

By Mairav Zonszein July 26, 2011

The “Religiousization” of the conflict in Jerusalem

By Mairav Zonszein and Aziz Abu Sarah Crossposted from commongroundnews.org Jerusalem – Jerusalem, home to Christianity, Judaism and Islam – and highly significant to Palestinians and Israelis alike – continues to be a crucial focal point in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The Holy Basin in Jerusalem is home to some of the most sacred sites to…

By Mairav Zonszein January 20, 2011

Israel vs Israel: A protest in Silwan against settlements

Silwan is a neighborhood in East Jerusalem just outside of the old city walls. The streets of the neighborhood are narrow and steep as most of the houses lie on either side of a deep gorge. The people and the geography of Silwan are unforgiving. Various settler organizations have been taking over Silwan house by…

By Joseph Dana September 5, 2010