‘Greater Jerusalem’ settlement project threatens city's demographics

AMMAN — Jerusalem Governorate Advisor Marouf Rifai said on Monday that Israel's "Greater Jerusalem" project is one of the most perilous settlement projects threatening the city's future.

In a statement to  Al Mamlaka TV,  Rifai pointed out " that the project involves three massive blocs: "Gush Etzion," which includes 14 settlements in the southwest of Jerusalem; the "Ma'ale Adumim" bloc, which consists of 8 settlements extending from eastern Jerusalem to the Jordan Valley; and the "Givat Ze'ev" bloc, which includes 5 settlements located in the northwestern part of Jerusalem.

Rifai stressed that the Israeli occupation aims to forcibly expel 150,000 Jerusalemites who hold residency rights but live behind the separation wall. "These residents would be replaced by 150,000 settlers, shifting the demographic balance in favor of the Jewish population, which would make up 88 per cent of the city's inhabitants, compared with 12 per cent Palestinians. Currently, Arabs represent 39 per cent of the population in the holy city, while Jews comprise 61 per cent."

In the first quarter of 2025, the Israeli authorities approved three new settlement projects, initiated work on two previously approved projects, and completed one earlier project, he added.

Rifai also noted that during this period, the Jerusalem Governorate continued to witness grave violations committed by Israeli forces against Palestinians, including extrajudicial killings, arrests, imprisonment orders, demolitions, eviction and deportation orders, house arrests, and daily incursions into the Al Aqsa Mosque.

According to a report issued by the Jerusalem Governorate, 13,064 settlers stormed the Al Aqsa Mosque under the protection of Israeli forces in the first quarter of this year. Additionally, 12,134 others entered the mosque under the pretext of "tourism." The settlers carried out provocative tours and performed Talmudic rituals in various areas of the mosque, violating the sanctity of the holy site.

The Israeli forces also escalated their repression of worshippers with unprecedented measures, he said, adding that they stormed the Mosque by force, compelling worshippers to leave under the threat of gunfire.

According to the report, 239 Jerusalemites were arrested during the first quarter of 2025, including 22 women and 18 children.

During the same period, the Israeli authorities carried out 91 demolition and bulldozing operations, including 26 cases of forced self-demolition, where Jerusalemites were compelled to demolish their own homes to avoid hefty fines. 

Additionally, 53 demolitions were carried out by occupation machinery, and 12 bulldozing operations targeted Palestinian lands and streets under the pretext of unauthorised construction. 

These actions were compounded by severe restrictions on obtaining building permits, making it nearly impossible for Jerusalemites to build legally, the reporter said.