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

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

From 19th-century family home to iconic Jerusalem hotel

What Is Jerusalem? From Community Space to Surveillance Chokepoint: Jerusalem’s Ancient Damascus Gate Transformed

Damascus Gate has become ugly, not from an architectural point of view but from a daily emotional one.

The Unusual Origins of an Iconic East Jerusalem Hotel

A Palestinian “Pasha’s Palace” became a haven for traumatized evangelical Christians who served the community for decades and founded a storied hotel.

Perspective: “The Worst Day of Every Year”

When your city wants you dead

Settlements How Settlers Warp History in Silwan

How the City of David Foundation distorts the narrative of archaeological sites in Silwan

Closure and Access to Jerusalem Palestinian Jerusalemites Invent Apps to Navigate Unpredictable Checkpoint Statuses

The hazards of driving while Palestinian

Spiritual and Religious Life Surprise and Joy: A Young Jerusalemite Man Returns to al-Aqsa Mosque to Pray after Months of Being Barred

One young man’s unexpected experience on the first Friday of Ramadan

Spiritual and Religious Life A Ramadan Dawn Prayer: “May God Protect Us from What This Day Has in Store for Us”

New metal gates trigger bad memories of electronic gates in 2017.