Key facts
- Israel is intensifying efforts to expand Jewish presence in annexed east Jerusalem.
- Home demolitions and evictions of Palestinian residents have increased significantly.
- Over 260 homes were demolished in 2025, a 70% rise from three years prior.
- Palestinians face severe limitations in obtaining housing permits compared to Jewish residents.
- Settler groups exploit laws to acquire or take over Palestinian properties.
- The Israeli government supports settlement growth and considers all of Jerusalem its capital.
Israel is intensifying its efforts to expand Jewish presence in annexed east Jerusalem, leading to increased home demolitions and evictions of Palestinian residents. Activists report a significant surge in demolitions, with some neighborhoods experiencing the most evictions in decades. Fakhri Abu Diab, a resident, described fighting for years to save his home, which was eventually demolished by Israeli authorities, leaving him and his wife living in a mobile home amidst the rubble.
According to Ir Amim, an Israeli anti-settlement group, over 260 homes and structures were demolished in 2025, a 70% increase from three years prior. This year has seen at least 116 demolitions. Aviv Tatarsky, a researcher at Ir Amim, described the intensity and scope as unprecedented, suggesting Israel feels unconstrained by international pressure.
Israel captured east Jerusalem in the 1967 Mideast war. Palestinians seek it for their future state, while the UN and much of the international community consider it occupied territory. Israel views all of Jerusalem as its capital. Palestinians in east Jerusalem are eligible for Israeli citizenship but face a difficult application process, with many choosing not to apply to avoid recognizing Israeli claims.
Rights activists state that while major Jewish settlements are supported, the growth of Palestinian neighborhoods is severely restricted, making it nearly impossible to obtain housing permits. Last year, nearly 9,000 permits were approved for Jewish residents, compared to fewer than 700 for Palestinians, who constitute about 40% of Jerusalem's population. Israeli officials attribute the discrepancy to fewer Palestinian applications, while many Palestinians deem the process futile.
When Palestinians build without permits, they face demolition. Settler groups, meanwhile, use various laws to acquire or take over Palestinian properties. Previous U.S. administrations had urged Israel to slow settlement projects, but President Donald Trump recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. The U.S. State Department stated it expects Israeli authorities to respect due process and the rule of law.
Abu Diab's neighborhood, al-Bustan, is near major religious sites. The Jerusalem municipality claims homes there were built without permits in non-zoned areas and plans to create a park and parking lot. The municipality also stated that residents did not show serious intentions to reach an agreement on alternative housing. Abu Diab has been fighting demolition orders since 2004.
In the Batan al-Hawah neighborhood, settlers are moving into homes as Palestinians are evicted. Zuhair al-Rajabi and his family were ordered to leave after a decade of legal action, despite having property documents from 1966. March saw the highest rate of evictions in this neighborhood in decades. Israeli laws permit settlers to reclaim properties owned by Jews before 1948, while Palestinians who fled or were displaced are barred from returning. Yair Dvir of B’Tselem described this as cooperation between settler organizations and state institutions to 'Judaize' east Jerusalem. The Israeli judiciary stated courts rule based on law and precedent, denying collusion. Daniel Luria of Ateret Cohanim stated they are correcting a historical injustice by helping Jews return to properties they claim were historically Jewish-owned before being expelled by Arabs and the British.