A view shows the Silwan neighborhood in east Jerusalem, Israel on May 21, 2026. Silwan, located in east Jerusalem near the Old City, is home to the City of David archaeological site, which Israelis associate with the biblical roots of Jerusalem and Palestinians view as part of the contested landscape of occupied east Jerusalem. (Photo by Simon Beni / Middle East Images / AFP via Getty Images)
JERUSALEM (AP) — For decades, Israel has worked to expand the Jewish presence in annexed east Jerusalem. It’s the beating heart of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and home to major Jewish, Christian and Muslim sites. Settlers have exploited discriminatory policies to evict Palestinians far from the front lines of the region’s wars. Activists say those efforts have gone into overdrive in recent years, as Israel is no longer constrained by U.S. pressure and attention has shifted to Gaza and other war zones. An Israeli rights group says over 260 homes and other structures were demolished in 2025, a 70% increase from three years earlier. Some neighborhoods have seen the most evictions in decades.
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