Sheikh Jarrah: A Legal Background

The case of Sheikh Jarrah is a complex and long-running legal matter, subject to competing property claims over a small area of land in Jerusalem, by the Jewish owners and Palestinian tenants, that also incorporates the area’s religious significance and spans a history dating back to pre-1948 British mandate era. The case has been subject to legal proceedings since 1972, and is currently before Israel’s Supreme Court, where a final decision is expected in the next 30 days.

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This particular case has garnered unprecedented attention in the wake of the recent Human Rights Watch (HRW) report accusing Israel of engaging in ‘apartheid’ practices, the International Criminal Court (ICC) investigation and a concerted campaign by the pro-Palestinian, BDS and NGO network, as well as the Palestinian leadership, to exacerbate and inflame the currently tense situation in and around Jerusalem.

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The ILF has prepared the following short legal background to help you understand the situation.

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