Contents

Introduction

1:
Which Jerusalem?
At Least Seven Different Jerusalems
Palestinians’ Concept of Jerusalem
In This Study

2:
Setting the Context: Demographic and Planning Realities
The Demographic Imperative
Results of Policy: Demographic Changes Over Time
Planning and Housing in Jerusalem
Municipal Services and Taxation
Summary

3:
Palestinian Access to Jerusalem: Closure and Its Impact
Evolution and Nature of the Closure Policy
Impact of Closure on Palestinian Institutions
Impact of Closure on Palestinian Economy
Impact of Closure on Palestinian Social and Cultural Life
Overall Impact: A Shifting Geography of the Mind

4:
Permitted Existence: Residency and Social Issues
Permanent Residency Status and Associated Benefits
Role of IDs in Daily Life
Evolution and Nature of the “Center of Life” Policy
Impact of “Center of Life” Policy on Palestinian Quality of Life and Feelings About the City
National Insurance Institute Inquiry Policy
Summary

5:
Political Predicament: Caught in the Crossfire
Integration with/Apartedness from Israeli Society
Evaluation of Existing Situation and Political Strategies
Outlook for the Future
Summary

Conclusion
Appendix
Notes

Tables, Graphs, and Maps

List of Tables

Table 1: Meaning of Jerusalem
Table 2: How Survey Respondents Defined Themselves
Table 3: Overall Breakdown of Arabs and Jews in Israeli Municipal Jerusalem
Table 4: Land Expropriated in East Jerusalem, 1967-1991
Table 5: Allowed Housing Units vs. Actual Population in Selected Arab Neighborhoods
Table 6: Number of Days of Closure: West Bank/Jerusalem
Table 7: Impact of Closure on Freedom of Movement
Table 8: Private Palestinian Hospitals in East Jerusalem
Table 9: Problems Created for Hospitals, Doctors, and Patients by Closure
Table 10: Crisis Indicators for Private Palestinian Hospitals in East Jerusalem, 1997
Table 11: Cost Cutting Measures Taken by East Jerusalem Hospitals, 1996-97
Table 12: Impact of Closure on Commerce
Table 13: Impact of Closure on Work Conditions
Table 14: Hotels in East vs. West Jerusalem
Table 15: Impact of Closure on the Family, 1996
Table 16: Impact of Closure on Family Relations, 1999
Table 17: Impact of Closure on Cultural Life
Table 18: Impact of Closure on the Geography of the Palestinian Mind
Table 19: Benefits and Obligations of Permanent Residency
Table 20: Importance of ID Cards
Table 21: Jerusalemites’ Understanding of Hebrew
Table 22: Jerusalemites’ Use and Knowledge of Hebrew (Oral Conversation)
Table 23: Jerusalemites’ Knowledge of Hebrew (Reading)
Table 24: Jerusalemites’ Knowledge of Hebrew (Writing)
Table 25: Knowledge of Hebrew Among Jerusalem Segment
Table 26: When Palestinians in Jerusalem Use Hebrew
Table 27: Attitudes on Israeli Passports, 1995
Table 28: Attitudes on Israeli Passports, 1995
Table 29: Citizenship Preference, 1996
Table 30: YOUR Citizenship Preference Today (1999) and in Peace
Table 31: Rating of Israeli Health Care and Social Services, 1996
Table 32: Future PNA Health Care and Social Services, 1996
Table 33: Expectations for Future PNA Health Care and Social Services, 1996
Table 34: Evaluation of Current Health Care, 1999
Table 35: Willingness to Switch From Israeli to Palestinian Health Care, 1999
Table 36: Main Problems Jerusalemites Face, 1995 vs. 1999
Table 37: Municipal Services Provided by Israel
Table 38: Satisfaction with Municipal Services in Your Area
Table 39: PNA Interest in Jerusalem, 1996
Table 40: PNA Caring About Jerusalem Issues, 1999
Table 41: Municipal Services Provided by the Palestinian Authority
Table 42: Political Representation Preference
Table 43: Sources of Support in a Crisis
Table 44: Participation in Municipal Elections, 1995
Table 45: Working with the Jerusalem Municipality
Table 46: Working with the Jerusalem Municipality by Current Passport Preference
Table 47: Importance of Jerusalem to the Palestinians
Table 48: Importance of Peace vs. Jerusalem
Table 49: Preferred Solution for Jerusalem, 1995
Table 50: Preferred Solution for Jerusalem, (Jerusalemites Only) 1999
Table 51: Preferred Solution for Jerusalem (West Bank & Gaza) 1999
Table 52: Compromise Solution for Jerusalem (West Bank & Gaza) 2000

List of Graphs

Graph 1: Israelis and Palestinians, 1972-1996: % of East Jerusalem Population
Graph 2: Demographic Balance in Israeli Municipal Jerusalem, 1967-1998
Graph 3: Number of Government-ordered Demolitions of Arab Homes in East Jerusalem
Graph 4: ID Cards Revoked Under “Center of Life” Policy, 1995-1999
Graph 5: YOUR Citizenship Preference, Today (1999) and in Peace

List of Maps

Old City
East Jerusalem Before June 6, 1967
Israeli Municipal Jerusalem
Greater & Metropolitan Jerusalem
Palestinian Muhafazha of Jerusalem
Population Distribution in Jerusalem
Settlement Development in Jerusalem & Environs 1967-Present
Checkpoints for Closure

The aim of this study is to provide an in-depth picture of the daily lives and dilemmas of Palestinians in Jerusalem today. The study focuses on a number of questions:

• How do Palestinians define Jerusalem?
• What is their demographic weight in the city, and what role has demography played in Israeli policy?
• What impact has Israeli policy on city planning and housing had on Palestinians’ quality of life in Jerusalem? What is the reality of Palestinians’ housing situation today?
• What has the closure of the city done to Palestinian institutions, economy, social life, and collective well-being?
• What is the Palestinians’ current residency status in the city, and what effect has the “center of life” policy had?
• What effect have the political changes of the past decade had on the lives of Palestinians in Jerusalem? How integrated into or apart from Israeli society are they? What political predicaments do they face today? How do they evaluate their existing situation and political strategies? What are their views on the future of their city?

We have tried to focus on some of the lesser-known but enormously important aspects of Palestinian life in Jerusalem, such as the impact of the city’s closure and Palestinian political attitudes, and to bring the Palestinian perspective to life through interviews and survey research. The purpose of this report is not to give detailed reports on each aspect of Palestinian reality, since there are many excellent existing studies that do just that. Rather, this report strives to put it all together and paint a more broadbrush picture of life through the eyes and voices of Palestinian Jerusalemites, so we can understand what they experience each day.

Today, Jerusalem’s Palestinians are caught in dilemmas on every level. Whether or not a solution is found for the final status of Jerusalem, and whatever that solution may be, the urgent and chronic problems of this sector of the population will have to be addressed as soon as possible. This report is a step toward identifying some of those problems and shedding light on how Palestinians themselves view the problems and potential solutions.

The report was commissioned by the JMCC and funded by the Ford Foundation. Research methods include random field surveys , first-person interviews with prominent Palestinian Jerusalemites, and a literature survey. The field studies and interviews were carried out in the summer of 1999.

Ghassan al Khatib
Director, JMCC
September 2000