The Israeli settlement movement has submitted an application to establish a new Jewish neighborhood in the Sheikh Jarrah area, located in East Jerusalem. The 'Amara' movement presented a proposal to the planning association for the construction of a Jewish quarter, which will consist of 122 residential units on the site of the former Shepherd Hotel.
This hotel, known as the 'Mufti House,' was originally built in the 1930s for the former Mufti of Jerusalem, Hajj Amin al-Husseini, although he never resided there. The hotel was demolished in 2009.
The initial hearing for this application is scheduled for November 11 at the Jerusalem Local Planning and Construction Committee. Founded in the 1970s, 'Amara' is one of the main driving forces behind the expansion of settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories, but this new endeavor will be the group's first settlement specifically in Sheikh Jarrah.
These events occurred against the backdrop of a large-scale operation conducted by Israeli forces in the city of Hebron in the West Bank. During the ongoing military blockade, no fewer than 20 Palestinians were detained, and over 2200 people were displaced.
The Palestinian news agency 'Wafa' reported that Israeli troops raided most areas of Hebron, conducting searches and interrogations in citizens' homes, subjecting them to violence before the arrest of several Palestinians. Forces also carried out raids in the cities of Dura, Yatta, and Al-Samu, located south of Hebron, detaining 11 Palestinians there after storming their residences and subjecting them to mistreatment.
Two other Palestinians were detained in Tarkumi, west of Hebron, along with other residents of the town of Khalhul, located to the north. The 'Wafa' agency specified that Israeli forces converted several Palestinian homes into barracks and observation posts. Troops occupied houses in the neighborhoods of Khalat Manna and Dahiya al-Zaytoun in southern Hebron for use as barracks.