Backgrounder

Palestinian Bedouin are the proud descendants of ancient tribes in the area, yet the state is working to corral them into unlivable areas.

Backgrounder How Israeli Legal Rulings Manipulate “Freedom of Worship” to Advance Colonial Ambitions on al-Aqsa Mosque

A legal expert reviews pivotal Israeli rulings on al-Aqsa Mosque since 1967.

Backgrounder Deir Amr: A Haven for Palestinian Orphans That Inspired Awe Near and Far until It Was Forcibly Emptied in 1948

Palestine’s first agricultural school was abloom with promise and potential.

Backgrounder Bir ‘Awna: The Neighborhood Israel Snatched from Beit Jala

Israel tried to ingest the neighborhood and, over time, regurgitate its residents—with only partial success.

Backgrounder Settler State: Guide to the Israeli Settler Groups That Work to Dispossess Palestinians in Jerusalem

A collaboration becomes a symbiosis.

Backgrounder What and Where Is Jerusalem’s Holy Basin, and Why Is It So Significant?

Jerusalem’s Holy Basin is a microcosm of Israel’s settler-colonial agenda in the city and the country.

Backgrounder Who Represents Palestinians in Jerusalem?

How a large and significant urban population of Palestinians is shut out of decision-making about their collective needs.

Backgrounder What Is the “Status Quo”?

The Status Quo agreement on Jerusalem’s holy sites, enacted in the Ottoman era, seeks to prevent conflict between religious groups. Increasingly, it is being violated.

Backgrounder The History of Israeli Settlement Expansion in and around East Jerusalem from 1967 to 1993

From 1967 to 1993, successive Israeli governments laid the foundations for an expanding settlement enterprise to Judaize Jerusalem and its surroundings.