Al-Shabaka Policy Brief March 2018

ISRAEL’S ANNEXATION CRUSADE IN JERUSALEM: THE ROLE OF MA’ALE ADUMIM AND THE E1 CORRIDOR

By Zena Agha

Overview This policy brief explores the implications of In recent months, Israel has made a series of annexation in the Jerusalem area, specifically the impact of the annexation of the city-settlement of [email protected] relentless attempts to annex settlements bordering Jerusalem. The most ambitious: The Greater Ma’ale Adumim and the parcel of land known as Jerusalem bill, which sought to annex Ma’ale E1, which connects it to Jerusalem. It shows how Adumim, Givat Zeev, Beitar Illit, and the Etzion bloc the annexation of these spaces would preclude a – a settlement cluster between Jerusalem and Hebron future Palestinian state by effectively cutting off –and which was scheduled for approval by the Israeli the northern and southern West Bank from each Ministerial Committee for Legislation at the end of other. Such annexation also illustrates Israel’s October 2017.1 Its ultimate aim was to “Judaize” methods of colonization throughout the OPT: land Jerusalem through demographic gerrymandering and confiscation, creeping annexation, demographic territorial expansion. manipulation, and population transfer. The brief concludes with recommendations for what the While Netanyahu delayed the bill indefinitely due international community, the Palestinian Authority to pressure from the United States, which was (PA), and Palestinians themselves can do to stem this concerned that it would hinder efforts to resurrect catastrophic outcome. peace talks, the intent behind it lives on in other measures. In the wake of US President Donald Annexation from the First Days of Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital Occupation in December 2017, Israel has ramped up efforts to annex the land and change the demographic makeup On June 27, 1967, 20 days after the Israeli Army www.Al-Shabaka.org of Jerusalem. occupied the most eastern outreaches of Jerusalem, Israel annexed almost 71 square kilometers of The current Benjamin Netanyahu government has land into the expanded boundaries of the Israeli brazenly presented a slew of other plans, resolutions, municipality of Jerusalem. This connected the Old and bills that would tighten Israel’s grip on Jerusalem. City, the western Israeli city, the formerly Jordanian- Buoyed by Trump’s green light, Israeli politicians, administered city, and 28 Palestinian villages (and administrators, and planners have also approved their pastures) into a single metropolitan area – all in thousands of housing units to be built in settlements an effortto create a unified, “eternal” Jewish capital. both in and around Jerusalem and deep in the OPT, The annexation included approximately 69,000 despite the fact that the establishment of settlements Palestinians who lived on the land. in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) is a violation of Article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Since 1967, Israel has limited Palestinian power, Convention. Securing a demographic majority and ownership, and habitation in the Jerusalem area while expanding the settlements are also part of a larger at the same time increasing Jewish-Israeli presence Israeli scheme to annex the West Bank.

1. The bill was authored by Member of the Knesset (MK) Yoav Kish (Likud) and MK Bezalel Smotrich (Jewish Home) and supported by Transport Minister MK 1 Yisrael Katz (Likud) and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (Likud). March 2018

and control. While Jerusalem remains the only proclaimed: “[Annexation] is going to happen in a few officially annexed Palestinian territory since 1967, the years. Let us lead Likud…It is our generation’s goal to nationalist right wing in Israel has long advocated for remove any question mark looming over the future of the full annexation of the OPT. the settlements.”

Legislation similar to the Greater Jerusalem bill has While Netanyahu scrapped a bill based on this been proposed over the years. The bill itself was resolution in mid-February 2018 in response to US a re-vamp of a similar plan from the 1990s, and disapproval, its spirit is evident in an array of subtler Member of the Knesset (MK) Yisrael Katz presented yet equally dangerous bills submitted by Israeli a comparable proposal in 2007. Both were shelved lawmakers. In mid-February, for instance, the Knesset due to concerns about international and Palestinian passed a bill that extends the state’s jurisdiction into backlash. the West Bank by bringing colleges and universities in settlements under the authority of the Israeli Council Like previous efforts, the Greater Jerusalem bill was for Higher Education. Though its direct impact is concerned with demographics. It stipulated that the somewhat limited, supporters of the bill have created 150,000 settlers living in the towns and councils in a rhetorical and legislative environment in which question be considered Jerusalem residents, thus the application of Israeli law in the settlements is no enabling them to vote in municipal elections and sway longer contentious – a step toward the ultimate goal of electoral outcomes. Simultaneously, the Knesset added annexing swathes of the West Bank. an amendment to the 1980 Basic Law: Jerusalem, Capital of Israel, which allows the government to separate areas of the city from the Jerusalem “The Greater Jerusalem municipality while requiring those new administrations to remain under Israeli sovereignty. This was clearly bill is a re-vamp of a intended to discount the 100,000 Palestinians living in the neighborhoods of Kufr Aqab, the Shuafat refugee similar plan from the camp, and Anata – which sit behind the Separation Wall – by reclassifying them as a sub-municipality and 1990s.” removing them from the census. Most significantly, Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked These measures would ensure that the Palestinian (Jewish Home) introduced a bill that was endorsed by population – which currently comprises nearly 40 the government in early March that proposes stripping percent of Jerusalem’s population – would be slashed the Israeli High Court of jurisdiction over West Bank to 32 percent, simply by re-configuring the city’s land disputes. If passed, the bill would ensure that the borders. MK Kish stated this demographic vision Jerusalem District Court instead of the Israeli High quite candidly: “Jerusalem will add a population which Court would hear cases involving Palestinians seeking will preserve the demographic balance.” Similarly, legal recourse in land disputes with settlers. This is a MK Katz stressed that the bill would “ensure a Jewish precedent-setting step that would effectively impose majority in the united city,” thus establishing Jerusalem Israeli law on the occupied West Bank. as the capital of Israel. The intention of this bill is twofold: First, by giving Moreover, preparations for annexing the West Bank an Israeli domestic court jurisdiction over non-citizen are already underway, as demonstrated by a non- Palestinians living beyond the Green Line, Shaked binding resolution passed unanimously on January seeks to (further) extend Israel’s domestic law and 1, 2018 by the Likud Central Committee. The legal structures into the West Bank. Second, it would resolution demands that Netanyahu, party leaders, give settlers even more of an advantage in court over and politicians “apply the laws of Israel and its Palestinian plaintiffs. According to aJustice Ministry sovereignty to all liberated areas of Jewish settlement official, Shaked regards the Israeli High Court as in Judea and Samaria” – the name used by religious being “overly concerned with international law and nationalists in reference to the West Bank. As former with protecting the rights of the ‘occupied’ population 2 education minister and Netanyahu rival Gideon Sa’ar in Judea and Samaria.” “state “state is close to March 2018 March to an adjacent declared 2 forcibly relocated forcibly , “the epitome of settler colonialism. of expulsion forcible in 1997 and Jahalin the land” during the 1980s and 1990s. This in resulted 1980s and 1990s. land” during the another 100 families. over 1998, evicting two achieve Ma’ale Adumim was intended to the penetrate goals: to strategically overarching grip on Jerusalem. Israel’s OPT and to consolidate In the case of of the location the former, Ma’ale The settlement’s chosen: Adumim was explicitly Thomas Leitersdorf, planner, and lead architect Bank was its placement in the central West said that specified accurately “without doubt, political…[and] was conceivably Israel that – the furthest place from possible.” “facts on the concrete ground,” In an effort to create and resources all required Ma’ale Adumim was given period, three-year lightning speed. In a at developed a city comprised ofIsraeli planners built thousands of where planning, rigid Such identical apartments. house is a facsimile ofeach in the words is, next, the of Dana Eraket odds with the organic – at It is colonial hegemony” ofdevelopment Palestinian the surrounding landscape. the sought to increase The Israeli government ofnumber the in and around Jewish-Israelis and subsidizing the settlement including by city, The prime to relocate. incentivizing their citizens support the migration was to ofobjective young, them better quality offering middle class couples by a significantly lower at housing close to Jerusalem by cost. These driven settlers non-ideological are the quality of an improved for a desire Today, life. 75 percent demographic split falls around settlement’s religious. secular and 25 percent dwelling units. Contrary to the popular claim that Contrary that claim popular to the dwelling units. “inherited” were Jerusalem to Jericho lands between lands,” “state therefore and Jordanians the from to the on lands belonging was built Ma’ale Adumim villagers ofPalestinian Azariya, Anata, Dis, Abu the the Jahalin, Moreover, and Isawiya. At-Tur Ma’ale inhabited had previously Bedouin tribe who were hills, Adumim’s demolition of dump after the rubbish their tent by The was expanded settlement encampments. Israel that another 1,300 hectares , set American lawmakers to support to lawmakers American urged 477,000, over eight times that of eight times that 477,000, over 60,000. around settlers Israeli in the rural settlements at the number of 94 to 50, the number Bank by urban settlements in the West 2. Despite rural settlements outnumbering settlers Israeli living in urban settlements The first Menachem Begin government (1977-81) TheBegin government first Menachem The boundaries planned and designed the town. Ma’ale Adumim is located next to Jericho in the to Jericho next Ma’ale Adumim is located of suburb OPT and functions as a Jewish Jerusalem, ofboasting a population 40,000. The exact of“founding” Ma’ale Adumim is uncertain. It began as an outpost of 15 ideological settlers in 1975 and in 1991 – the first to do so in the city status received Bank. West Ma’ale Adumim: The Jewel in the Ma’ale Adumim: The Jewel ofCrown Colonization in 1979, covered around 3,500 hectares with 2,600 with hectares 3,500 around in 1979, covered Fundamental to both of these outcomes is the of annexation proposed the city-settlement of the strip of Ma’ale Adumim and that land as the E1 corridor. known connects it to Jerusalem, the inclusion ofDemographically, Ma’ale Adumim in of the number drastically increase would Jerusalem the and, spatially, in the city, residents Jewish-Israeli ofannexation be the final nail the E1 corridor would in the coffin solution. two-state of the Such attitudes are being given an international given being are attitudes Such during the AIPAC platform.At a side event 2018, in March DC, Washington, in conference ofthe council head Oded Ravivi, the Efrat settlement, of (or expansion) the building while Thus, illegal been have efforts annexation settlements and pursued since 1967, it is clear that relentlessly If moment. is facing an existential Palestine the of variant bill, or any Jerusalem Greater it, were momentous two have to be implemented it would their from Palestinians sever consequences: It would the city demographically Judaizing capital, Jerusalem, point the narrowest colonize and would and spatially, of a contiguous Palestinian Bank, making the West impossible. state the annexation ofthe annexation in an increase Bank and the West that no secret “It’s He argued, settlement building. attempts different been have in the Knesset there in Judea law or adopting Israeli annexation regarding think the time has come to apply and Samaria…I Samaria.” and in Judea Israeli law

Al-Shabaka Policy Brief 3 March 2018 March through parts through Plan No. 420/4) Plan No. has already been has already . Additionally, much of much . Additionally, to build urban blocks urban blocks to build to alleviate Ma’ale Adumim’s Ma’ale Adumim’s xto alleviate Separation Wall Separation ” halfway across the West Bank’s Bank’s the West across ” halfway attempted , covering approximately 1,200 hectares 1,200 hectares approximately , covering , including paved roads, supporting walls, walls, supporting roads, , including paved to build it – under pressure from both from – under pressure it to build ofborders the expanded Adumim bring to Ma’ale E1 is not merely a land corridor, but is also intended intended is also but land corridor, a not merely E1 is Rabin (1992- Minister Yitzhak settlement. Prime for 95) approximately – covering its jurisdiction E1 under minister Israeli prime every – and 4,800 hectares has since Rabin is split into separate in 1999 and approval received detailed plans of the majority of land, Israel has declared which industrial reservoir, a water date, land.” To “state for been presented have station and police zone, and constructed review public the supplementary infrastructure put in place over totaling lighting, and street roundabouts, traffic $5.5 million. a new Israeli for is in preparation infrastructure Such would Adumim that settlement called Mevaseret area. residential include 3,500 housing units in its intended Ostensibly and regional services housing shortage and offer ultimately it would facilities, and tourism commercial area. in the Jerusalem population the Jewish increase Adumim has become a rallying cry for Mevaseret has repeatedly the right wing in Israel. Netanyahu pledged of mayor and the veteran right-wing groups Ma’ale Kasriel. Adumim, Benny The effect of settlement in the E1 and/or annexation create First, it would be devastating. corridor would a “salient jutting point (28 kilometers frsoom east to west). narrowest Ramallah and between the route This sever would Bethlehem, disrupt the territorial contiguity between Bank, and ultimately the northern and southern West end hopes of model. a two-state Jerusalemite further isolate Second, it would Bank Palestinians West and separate Palestinians in the OPT, Palestinians many For Jerusalem. from is their economic and cultural center. Jerusalem ofThe building the of the ring of Bank and around the West existing access Palestinians denied already settlements have can no Bank IDs with West Palestinians to Jerusalem. or visit medical care, receive study, longer do business, friends and family without permission the Israeli from security apparatus. in the area. The Master Plan ( E1 in the area. in with declared parcel of parcel as E1. land known

“Ma’ale Adumim was was Adumim “Ma’ale OPT and to consolidate consolidate to and OPT

intended to penetrate the penetrate to intended Israel’s grip on Jerusalem.” on grip Israel’s MK Naftali Bennett (Jewish Home), the right-wing Home), the MK Naftali Bennett (Jewish annexing has spoken about minister, education the for Ma’ale Adumim and E1. In preparation ofintroduction bill, he an annexation The E1 corridor measures approximately 12 square 12 square The approximately E1 corridor measures Area within Israel-controlled kilometers and is located and Ma’ale Adumim. Israel’s Jerusalem C between Ma’ale in acquiring E1 is to secure primary objective creating territorial contiguity with Israel by Adumim’s Ma’ale Adumim and between block an urban Jewish grip on East bolster Israel’s This would Jerusalem. Palestinian districts dwarfing its by Jerusalem making the two-state neighborhoods while Jewish less viable. model even Any annexation of annexation Any Ma’ale Adumim and other parts of depend on the acquisition of Bank would the West significant a strategically The Devastating Effects ofThe Devastating E1 Annexing 2017 that “clearly it’s time for a quantum change… a quantum time for it’s “clearly 2017 that We has not worked. approach The incremental to go have We a new reality. to understand it’s have bold, and fast.” This is a first “new reality” step big, of full annexation toward Bank. the West Ma’ale Adumim, along with neighboring settlements Ma’ale Adumim, along with neighboring it, form sprung up around a sweeping have that landscape interpose that area the Palestinian built-up their capital and from from Palestinians and isolate of in the crown It is the jewel other. the Israel each settlement project. Since 1975, Ma’ale Adumim has evolved into a has evolved Ma’ale Adumim 1975, Since industrial theater, with a library, complete metropolis, Around and 78 kindergartens. 15 schools, malls, park, of70 percent for to Jerusalem commute residents occupied transition across noticing the barely work, territory.

Al-Shabaka Policy Brief 4 . As 3 of March 2018 March intolerable no recourse to no recourse , half of whom 2,700 Bedouins residents continue to earn raising continue residents a living from including in the as laborers, work The rest livestock. settlements. nearby the Bedouins’ External ameliorating at attempts 2017, Israel been thwarted. In March have situation againstissued 42 demolition orders the impoverished village of Khan al-Ahmar in E1, angering the of many had funded which Union, European the serves that including a school buildings, village’s the ages of between than 150 children more six and neighboring communities. fifteen – some from are children, in the Ma’ale Adumim vicinity. The Adumim vicinity. in the Ma’ale children, are majority of the Jahalin come from these communities tribe. since the 1950s lived Despite the Bedouins having after them Israel allocated on the land – land that in the Negev Arad area the Tel from their expulsion handles activities (which – the Civil Administration have they that in the OPT) dictates Israel deems “legal.” Theconstruction that Israeli the deprived also deliberately authorities have ofJahalin and as water such access to basic services, life on the land to make their electricity, on the land. or build to work allowed not are They the Israeli military limits them from Moreover, grazingaccessing their allotted land for their flocks, costly fodder them to depend on purchasing forcing to sell their been obliged have Herders sheep. for only 30 percent that with the result livestock, devastating to Palestinians’ freedom of freedom to Palestinians’ devastating movement state. potential future and their ofthe contested annexation In sum, corridor the E1 formallyseeks to Adumim into the bring Ma’ale offold and the land diagonally severing Jerusalem, – their Jerusalem off from also cutting Palestinians also displace Palestinian It would intended capital. generations. for there lived have who communities Transfer Population ofImplementation the annexation/settlement the immediate require E1 would for proposals ofexpulsion living on the land, a the Bedouins of violation there At present, international law. approximately are . that if that states access would be denied access would of77.5 hectares privately-owned Jerusalem.” Israel “to accelerate approvals of approvals transfers Israel “to accelerate of halt forced master plans, Palestinian and demolitions of population housing and infra- Palestinian

“Dubbed the Apartheid the Apartheid “Dubbed

‘Eastern Ring Road’ near near Road’ Ring ‘Eastern Road, Israel is building the building is Road, Israel 3. The EU urged humanitarian needs.” and address permits, access to water, ensure to obtain building procedures simplify administrative structure, A report by Israeli NGO B’Tselem Israeli NGO B’Tselem by A report Further, E1 is peppered with enclaves of with enclaves E1 is peppered Further, approximately For instance, This affect local infrastructure. would would, Palestinians by used currently the roads for become local roads as with other settlements, settler use and Palestinian Moreover, the religious significance of significance the religious such Moreover, is Jerusalem not be overlooked. should annexation of many home to sites for religious the most sacred the including and Christian Palestinians, Muslim Sanctuary (home ofNoble the Al-Aqsa Mosque) ofChurch and the Annexation Sepulchre. the Holy restrictions the religious only exacerbate would denied the right to are who imposed on Palestinians the holy sites. at worship freely to unable land. Since Israel has been Palestinian not officially are land,” they them “state declare plans. or settlements included in the annexation invariably settlement construction in E1 would Any areas, Jewish-Israeli them with built-up surround limiting the ability of to landowners Palestinian farmland. their access and cultivate Recognizing the spatial, political, and diplomatic political, and diplomatic the spatial, Recognizing consequences of Bank in half, the West severing near the “EasternIsrael is building Ring Road” because of the Apartheid Dubbed Road Jerusalem. Israeli its middle separating runs down the wall that it is intended to facilitate motorists, and Palestinian south West the north and between travel Palestinian it Yet contiguity.” “transportational Bank to ensure is also meant to better connect Israeli settlements to motorists from Palestinian preventing while Jerusalem of The implications accessing Jerusalem. are the road no alternate roads were to be built, the access ban the to be built, were no alternate roads of freedom Palestinian reduce considerably would diminished area. in the already movement

Al-Shabaka Policy Brief 5 March 2018 March return campaigns and planned their current in with policymakers. of platitudes beyond The EU should move assistance its humanitarian when condemnation or is confiscated communities to vulnerable hold Israel to account should actively It destroyed. the recognition as such pressure, with diplomatic the of Simultaneously, statehood. Palestinian should identify solidarity movement Palestine it to urging on the EU, to apply pressure ways obligations and its regulations own its abide by under international law. the that should make it clear The PA ofimplementation bill would annexation any if line that, constitute a red would crossed, and terminate the PA between all cooperation would movement grassroots Israel. An organized its hand. and strengthen PA the both pressure vision of spatial its own create should The PA the Adumim, and Ma’ale Jerusalem between area of the importance facts stressing supported by to the viability ofthe area Palestinian a future This vision should be crafted by alternative state. and think planners, geographers, town Palestinian tanks. • • • The flurry of example latest the recent bills is merely of the Israeli theft of land and the Palestinian ofprocess has been taking that Zionist colonization of the establishment place since before the state of the realization Israel. While it is unlikely that of Israel in forestall would these recommendations of the entirety its ideological mission to “Judaize” on the capitalize would moves such Palestine-Israel, momentum in sentiment gathering pro-Palestinian its entrenched and take Israel to task for the West practices. and colonization occupation 6 By 4 the expulsion ofannounced the expulsion of the residents of the Bedouin town a for Umm Al-Hiran to make way Yet despite Yet 5 states that forced population transfer includes “threat of transfer includes “threat population fear of forced that caused by states as that such or coercion, force violence, is home to 21 to 21 is home al-Ahmar Khan Since it is evident that the Trump administration administration the Trump that Since it is evident the right-wing on force will not be the restraining other than the coalition in the Knesset, nations apply as internationalUS as well must bodies any to ensure on the Israeli government pressure civil society Palestinian bill is costly. annexation go must solidarity movement and the Palestine offurther in raising awareness close the how is to the point ofIsraeli settlement project no extension, any military permanently plans intended to any extension, a war crime. occupied people is relocate duress, detention, psychological oppression or abuse of or abuse oppression detention, psychological duress, of person taking advantage against or persons such or another person, power or by environment.” a coercive called Hiran. town Jewish 6. This tactic of- peren desert are villages” in the Naqab/Negev Bedouins living in the so-called “unrecognized Line. within the Green transfer is mirrored population Israeli authorities risk ofnially at Most recently, “resettlement.” 4. International humanitarian law prohibits forcible transfer unless it is for residents’ safety or for an urgent military need. an urgent safety or for residents’ transfer unless it is for forcible 4. International prohibits humanitarian law 6(e) Statute 5. International Criminal Court Rome • The international community, the PA, and Palestinian and Palestinian the PA, The international community, civil society can take steps halt this flagrant to ofviolation international law: The annexation ofThe annexation Adumim would E1 and Ma’ale in alter the geopolitical realities dramatically stamp it rubber Not only would Palestine-Israel. of Judaization also cripple it would Israel’s Jerusalem, the Oslo laid out by statehood future Palestinian out in the These play tensions continually Accords. European United Nations, Knesset, US Congress, broadly. field more Union, media, and humanitarian parts of moving The many the Ma’ale Adumim plan make it a perpetual ofannexation source discussion, disagreement, resistance. and Recommendations Under the current E1 plans, the Jahalin are to be are Jahalin the E1 plans, current Under the This forces townships. to three and relocated expelled to is anathema that onto the Bedouins a lifestyle of In the context their nomadic existence. military transfer of any occupation, persons” – “protected – including confiscation as these communities such or destruction of power, the occupying by property of breach a gross represents international law. families numbering 146 people, including 85 minors. 146 people, numbering families of September 2017, the clear international legal framework condemning condemning the clear international legal framework the to relocate attempt Israel’s these practices, as a tool to – using domestic law Bedouins continues claims to land. Bedouin and Palestinian obfuscate

Al-Shabaka Policy Brief 6 March 2018 March Al-Shabaka, The Palestinian Policy Network is Network Policy Al-Shabaka, The Palestinian an independent, non-partisan, and non-profit and mission is to educate whose organization human rights Palestinian on debate public foster and self-determination within the framework of Al-Shabaka policy briefs international law. to Al- due attribution with be reproduced may For Network. Policy Shabaka, The Palestinian or informationmore www.al-shabaka.org visit email: [email protected]. contact us by with be circulated may Al-Shabaka materials The to Al-Shabaka: Palestinian due attribution The opinion of Network. Policy individual members of do not policy network Al-Shabaka’s the views ofnecessarily reflect organization the as a whole. is the US Policy Fellow of Fellow Zena Agha is the US Policy Al- Network. Policy Shabaka: The Palestinian policy, centers around experience Zena’s diplomacy and journalism. She has previously the in Paris, the Iraqi Embassy at worked and the UNESCO at delegation Palestinian include interests Economist. Her main research memory and modern Eastern Middle history, practices. and spatial narrative-production,

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