The past eight months have deeply and irreversibly shaken both Palestinians and Israelis. The massive loss and destruction, the violent disruption of daily life, and the tremendous disregard for human life have already left an indelible mark on both peoples. For many individuals, this period has deepened a sense of vulnerability, which has often been exploited by extremist figures to heighten sentiments of mutual fear and demonization. Amidst this, the government seems to be offering us more of the same: a future of endless wars, hatred, racism, and revenge.  

However, in the face of this terrifying vision for the future—one that seeks to impose a messianic agenda of Jewish supremacy in Jerusalem and throughout the region, —we, at Ir Amim, are working towards an alternative of equality and justice. We are convinced that the path towards solving this painful and prolonged conflict starts here, in Jerusalem Al-Quds, and it starts today.   

Now is precisely the time to step up our efforts for achieving a different future in Jerusalem Al-Quds. Now is the time to strengthen our ability to respond to the immense needs of the city’s diverse population and to work towards an inclusive and fair city that respects the individual and collective rights of all its residents and the communities within it. A city free from occupation. The home and capital of two peoples, Israelis and Palestinians. 

Let’s build this future together! Donate to support the work of Ir Amim.  

Take note: This is a matching campaign! Every shekel you donate will be worth two shekels thanks to the generosity of Ir Amim’s friend and supporter, Sally Gottesman, who has promised to double every donation received by the end of the campaign. Her donation is dedicated to the memory of Professor Alice Shalvi, who passed away this year. Professor Shalvi, a winner of the Israel Prize, was a longtime educator, a feminist activist committed to social justice and peace, and a true friend of Ir Amim.  

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For the past eight months, reality in East Jerusalem has been marked by repression, violence, and a sharp deterioration in living standards. For weeks after October 7, checkpoint closures disconnected entire neighborhoods from the rest of the city—preventing many from reaching their workplaces and schools, receiving medical services, or visiting family. Students and teachers were arrested on their way to school and subjected to invasive searches and harassment by the police, who have stepped up arrests and violent tactics in the east of the city. Entry restrictions into Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount have caused an unprecedented infringement on Muslim worship rights and breaches of the status quo. In the aftermath of October 7, home demolitions surged, and, since then, Israeli authorities have accelerated plans for settlements beyond the Green Line. The world’s focus on Gaza has meant that a lot of these actions by the state have gone unnoticed.  

For us, at Ir Amim, it was clear that, precisely in this most painful moment, our work was the most crucial. In the past months, we have been working to respond to the unprecedented aggressive conduct of the authorities and to counteract attempts to exploit the situation to promote hostility and establish new facts on the ground. 

Shortly after the beginning of the war, we established an emergency team that has since focused on attending to urgent needs, preventing escalations, documenting the state’s conduct in East Jerusalem, and creating shared spaces for Palestinians and Israelis in academia. We have stood firmly against the infringement of basic human rights of East Jerusalem residents and have gathered organizations and activists from East and West Jerusalem into a solidarity network that, among other initiatives, has distributed food aid to Palestinian families in need and spearheaded efforts to prevent inter-religious escalation. 

There is much more to do. Our work of constant and thorough monitoring and challenging of Israeli policy in East Jerusalem and of its effects on Palestinians is crucial to preserving the possibility for a different future.  

Now, more than ever, it is clear that all attempts to ‘manage’ the conflict have unequivocally failed and have only brought about more wars and more casualties, deepening traumas and animosity on both sides. Real security can only be achieved through political agreements and a genuine understanding that our well-being is intertwined.  

And, of all places, we are convinced that Jerusalem can be the starting point for a solution. Previous peace efforts have relegated discussions over the political future of the city to the final stages of negotiation, fearing they might be derailed by such a sensitive topic. However, we believe now is the time to do the opposite: Jerusalem holds in it all the complexities of the conflict and yet, as home to both Israelis and Palestinians, it can also hold the keys for a future of equality, peace, and justice. 

Help us write this new story for Jerusalem Al-Quds and for the entire region!  

Together, let’s build a future of true peace in which this city is home and capital to two peoples, Israelis and Palestinians. A future of justice, equality, and freedom for all who live in this land.