East Jerusalem: Annexed and Divided

In 1967, Israel annexed the Palestinian city of East Jerusalem, separating it from the rest of the West Bank. The construction of the Annexation Wall, which began in 2002, fragmented East Jerusalem into enclaves of Palestinian communities along the path of the Wall, further segregating Palestinian residents from one another. Particularly affected are East Jerusalem neighbourhoods of Kufr 'Aqab, Semiramis, Shu'fat refugee camp and 'Anata -- located east of the Wall -- that have been deprived of services and rights despite the fact that they are located within the Israeli-defined municipal boundaries of Jerusalem. The effect of the Wall on Palestinian Jerusalemites has been, and continues to be, negative and life altering. Movement within East Jerusalem itself, and from the city to the rest of the West Bank, has become heavily securitised and restricted. Approximately 25 per cent of Palestinian Jerusalemites face the reality of crossing a checkpoint to access health, education and other services to which they are entitled to as tax-paying residents. Not to mention the continuously detrimental effect the Wall is having on the family, social and cultural life of Palestinian residents of Jerusalem.