Settler Group Plans 122-Unit Settlement in East Jerusalem's Sheikh Jarrah
Translated & summarized from Panet by baba
The Israeli settlement organization Amana plans to build a 122-unit settlement in East Jerusalem's Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood at the historic Shepherd Hotel site. This marks Amana's first project in Jerusalem, with a hearing scheduled for November 2026. The plan is seen by the Ir Amim organization as part of a systematic Israeli effort to transform the Palestinian neighborhood into a settlement.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Amana movement plans to establish a new 122-unit settlement in East Jerusalem's Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood.
- The proposed settlement targets the historic Shepherd Hotel site, spanning approximately 5.8 dunams.
- This initiative represents Amana's first settlement project within Jerusalem after decades of West Bank activity.
- A hearing for the plan, designated number 1602689, is scheduled for November 11, 2026.
- Ir Amim describes the plan as part of a systematic Israeli effort to transform Sheikh Jarrah into an Israeli settlement.
The Israeli settlement organization Amana is planning to establish a new settlement in East Jerusalem's Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood, comprising 122 housing units. This initiative marks Amana's first project in Jerusalem after decades of activity in the West Bank. The plan targets the historic Shepherd Hotel site, spanning approximately 5.8 dunams, and envisions residential buildings up to 12 stories high.
The proposal, designated plan number 1602689, is in its early stages and has not yet been presented to the Jerusalem Local Planning and Building Committee. A hearing is scheduled for November 11, 2026. Amana, described as one of the most powerful Israeli settler organizations with government funding and close cooperation with Israeli authorities, is headed by Ze'ev Hever, a former member of a clandestine Jewish terrorist organization.
The Shepherd Hotel site was originally owned by the Palestinian al-Husseini family before being confiscated by Israeli authorities under the "Absentee Property Law" and later transferred to the right-wing settler organization Ateret Cohanim. Ateret Cohanim had previously built a residential complex next to the hotel, which has remained vacant.
The new plan involves demolishing existing residential buildings to make way for the larger settlement project, while preserving the historic hotel structure. Recent years have seen efforts to settle land ownership, with parts registered under the "Absentee Property Law" and others under a foreign company believed to be linked to Ateret Cohanim. It remains unclear how Amana assumed responsibility for the project's development from Ateret Cohanim. Eliyahu Menachem Hershorn submitted the plan on behalf of Amana.
Aviv Tatersky, a researcher at Ir Amim, stated that Amana's plan is part of a broader Israeli government effort, involving the Ministry of Construction and Housing and the Jerusalem Development Authority, to build thousands of housing units for Israeli settlers instead of addressing the needs of Palestinian residents in Sheikh Jarrah. Tatersky added that these plans, alongside settlement groups, demonstrate a systematic Israeli effort to transform Sheikh Jarrah from a Palestinian neighborhood into an Israeli settlement.
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