Jerusalem Notebook

Rediscover Jerusalem through a Palestinian lens.
Closure and Access to Jerusalem Palestinian Women Share Little-Noted Hazards of Prolonged Closures: “The Checkpoints Strained My Bladder”

The right to medical treatment and even to relieve oneself are compromised by Israeli checkpoints, especially when extended closures are enforced.

The Old City Shops Are Reeling after Weeks of Closure Due to War

Jerusalem shop owners are determined to remain open, despite Israeli measures placing the Old City off limits to most Palestinians, which kills business.

Gaza War: Escalating Israeli Abuse of Palestinian Prisoners Is Hidden Front

Israel’s treatment of Palestinian prisoners before and after the October 7 Hamas attack is taking a toll.

Blog Posts

Mohanad Darwish: “I’ve Never Been Surrounded by This Many Rifles in My Entire Life”

What is it like to come of age in Jerusalem as a Palestinian male?

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.

Impact of Israel’s Gaza War: “Jerusalem Is Completely Isolated”

Israel’s ongoing assault on Gaza is disproportionately impacting Palestinian women in Jerusalem and the West Bank.

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.

The Many Missions of the Women’s Centre for Legal Aid and Counselling (WCLAC)

Since 1991, the Women’s Centre for Legal Aid and Counselling (WCLAC) has tackled discrimination and violence against women within Palestinian society in East Jerusalem and beyond.

Who Are the Palestinians of Jerusalem? Perspective: Our Roots in Jerusalem

Unlike other nationals, we Palestinians are expected to keep proving our Jerusalem roots to people whose only aim is to delegitimize our presence here.

Precarious Status Four Days in Jerusalem

Journalist Daoud Kuttab returns for a brief visit to Jerusalem, the city where he was born and raised, and shares his reflections on his experiences.

The West Side Story The Nakba as Experienced by a Jerusalem Child

The trauma of losing home and familiar ways of being in the world lingered with author Nina Bazouzi Cullers for decades after her family left Qatamon for the Old City. A book review.