Jerusalem Notebook

Rediscover Jerusalem through a Palestinian lens.
Perspective: UNRWA: A Source of Dignity, Support, and Hope Whose Banning Leaves an Unfillable Void

Jerusalem residents reflect on the vital services that UNRWA has provided for over more than seven decades.

A Day of Grace: The Samrin Family Harvests Their Olives in Silwan

An oft-targeted family gets a day of respite.

Jerusalem Hotel: A Journey into History, Heritage, and Arabic Poetry Just Steps from Damascus Gate

From 19th-century family home to iconic Jerusalem hotel

Blog Posts

Land Home Demolitions Spike in East Jerusalem as Ongoing War Averts Attention

Home demolitions in Jerusalem have been spiking; certain areas appear targeted.

Forcible Home Expulsions Forcible Self-Demolition of One’s Home: A Lifelong Trauma for the Whole Family

Israeli authorities are forcing thousands of Palestinian residents in Jerusalem to demolish their own homes, leaving them homeless.

Education The Center for Jerusalem Studies: A Research Beacon Preserving Palestinian Heritage in Jerusalem’s Old City

Located in the Old City, Al-Quds University’s Center for Jerusalem Studies trains the next generation on Jerusalem’s rich past. 

 

Prominent Palestinian Activist’s Home Bulldozed as Demolitions Spike in Jerusalem

He campaigned against home demolitions. Then they came for his.

Children at High Risk: “After Gaza, the Most Dangerous Place for Palestinians Right Now Is East Jerusalem”

The October 7 war has led to increased violations of Palestinian children’s rights in Jerusalem and across the oPT, and defending them has become more challenging.

Neighborhoods beyond the Wall House Hunting in Kufr ‘Aqab

A newlywed couple face challenges when they try to find an apartment to buy in the Palestinian neighborhood of Kufr ‘Aqab, which lies behind the Separation Wall.

Update on Human Rights in East Jerusalem: “We’re in a Very Dangerous Situation”

A Palestinian human rights activist in Jerusalem describes the dangerous spike in Israeli violations of Palestinian rights there since Israel declared war on Gaza on October 7.

What Is Jerusalem? Reconstructing the Life and Erasure of Jerusalem’s Moroccan Quarter

This definitive history of Jerusalem’s iconic Moroccan Quarter explains its significance over centuries, how Israel destroyed it overnight, and why it still matters. A book review.