In 2018, the Israeli government announced its decision to begin the process of land registration in East Jerusalem (EJ) through the “Land Settlement Project”. This process aims to exploit the delicate situation in EJ, where the vast majority of land owned by Palestinians lacks formal ownership documentation. Israel has been aiming at removing and replacing the Palestinians of EJ since it occupied the city in 1967. This new process, which has been launched, helps to achieve Israel’s goal. In 2022, Israel halted a widely used method by Palestinians to prove their land ownership (the Makhateer Doctrine). Eventually, it resumed the land registration process, with Palestinians lacking the means to prove their ownership claims. The final outcome is the legalization of Israeli land grab, which will lead to further disposition and forcible removal of Palestinians in EJ. This is all in clear violation of international law and a dangerous move threatening Palestinian existence in EJ.

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