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The area near Beit Hanina on which the new neighborhood was intended to be constructed, yesterday.Credit: Emil Salman Published by Haaretz
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The neighborhood, which sits on land owned by local Palestinian residents, was set to be the first in Jerusalem specifically built for Palestinian residents since 1967 ■ Sources familiar with the plans say Jerusalem's mayor feared approving the construction before local elections later this year

by Nir Hasson for Haaretz
Apr 19, 2023

The Jerusalem municipality has retracted its support for a plan to build a new neighborhood for Palestinian residents in the northern part of the city.

The neighborhood, which was planned by Palestinian landowners in the area, would have been the first in Jerusalem specifically built for Palestinian residents since 1967, when Israel gained control of East Jerusalem.

Sources familiar with plans for the new neighborhood said the reason for the reversal was that Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Leon feared approving it shortly before the local elections later this year.

Tel Adaseh is an archaeological site in the Beit Hanina neighborhood that is surrounded by open land. It is the largest land reserve in East Jerusalem, encompassing some 600 dunams. The area is zoned for residential construction in the city’s master plan.

The land is owned by hundreds of Palestinian residents of Beit Hanina and its environs. Around 15 years ago, the landowners got together with the aid of Beit Hanina’s community administration and began promoting plans to construct a new neighborhood on their land.

The proposal, prepared by architect Ayala Ronel, calls for the construction of around 2,500 homes and a number of public buildings, as well as roads and infrastructure. The plan also aims to conserve large open spaces –including the Tel and the stream that run through the neighborhood – and it includes provisions for nature preservation in the area at large.

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