View of Ramot
The Ring neighborhoods of Jerusalem (Hebrew: שכונות הטבעת) are five suburban neighborhoods built on territory captured by Israel in the Six Day War and unilaterally annexed to Jerusalem. The neighborhoods are Neve Yaakov, Gilo, East Talpiot, Ramot and Pisgat Ze'ev. The European Union considers the neighbourhoods to be illegal settlements.[1]
History and legal status[]
In 1967, following the Six Day War, the makeup of Jerusalem was altered. Plans were drawn up to establish new residential neighborhoods on undeveloped land around Jerusalem as a housing solution for young couples, new immigrants, and middle class families seeking a better quality of life. The city's territory was increased to 108km² when Israel unilaterally annexed areas north, east and south of the city to Israel, totaling an area three times the size of pre-war West Jerusalem. Today, as many as 165,000 people reside in these communities. According to the United Nations and European Union,[2] due to their having been built beyond the Green Line, the neighborhoods Israel subsequently built on these annexed grounds are considered to be Israeli settlements, leading them to be to considered illegal under international law based on the Fourth Geneva Convention and United Nations Security Council Resolution 476.[3][4][5][6] However, Israel disputes this, maintaining that these neighborhoods are part of the municipality of Jerusalem, and therefore under Israel's sovereignty. The United States position has been inconsistent. The United States abstained from voting on Resolution 476 and the US Congress has declared that "Jerusalem should remain an undivided city... the capital of the State of Israel" in the Jerusalem Embassy Act.[7] On the other hand, the Obama administration has stated that East Jerusalem settlements must halt construction and expansion permanently.[8] Canada has also shown wavering stances regarding the neighborhoods,[9] by using ambiguous wording or refusing to outwardly classify the neighborhoods as illegal West Bank settlements.
Neighborhoods[]
- Neve Yaakov is the northernmost neighborhood in Jerusalem. Established in 1970, it has about 20,000 residents.
- Gilo at the south-west of the city, is the highest neighborhood. Established in 1971, it has about 40,000 residents.
- East Talpiot (East of Talpiot) is located at the south-east, situated near the Commissioner's Palace. Established in 1973, it has about 15,000 residents.
- Ramot is located at north-west, north of Highway 1. Established in 1974, it has about 40,000 residents.
- Pisgat Ze'ev in the north is the largest neighborhood in Jerusalem. Established in 1982, it has about 50,000 residents.
Other Jewish neighborhoods in Jerusalem that were built over the Green Line, such as Ramat Shlomo, French Hill and Har Homa, are not considered to be part of the Ring neighborhoods.
References[]
- ↑ EU Heads of Missions Report (Dec. 1, 2008)
- ↑ EU rebukes Israel for Jerusalem settlement expansion (EUObserver, Nov. 19, 2009)
"The presidency recalls that settlement activities, house demolitions and evictions in East Jerusalem are illegal under international law." - ↑ Resolution 476
- ↑ Israel approves new homes in East Jerusalem settlement AFP July 9, 2008
- ↑ [1]
- ↑ A Palestinian Academic Society for the Study of International Affairs study notes (citing from another analysis) that "'since 1967, two rings of new residential neighborhoods built around the city center have created new ramparts [emphasis original] designed primarily as a political barrier against any possible repatriation of the city.'" And concludes that: "the strategic placement of these four settlements formed the key links of the inner ring of settlements between East Jerusalem and the West Bank."[2]
- ↑ [3]
- ↑ Analysis: Obama's press on Gilo shows a continued misread of Israel (Jerusalem Post, Nov. 19, 2009)
- ↑ [4]
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