This book is centered on the political and economic mechanisms practiced by Israel in East Jerusalem over the last decade. These mechanisms reinforce occupation and keep Jerusalem’s Palestinians subjugated through co-optation into the Israeli system. Analysis is polarized on the changes wrought during the mayoralty of Nir Barkat (2008–2018), who came into politics from the business world and introduced management concepts to the workings of municipal government. While Barkat succeeded in creating the illusion of a “new era” in eastern Jerusalem, the result is heartbreaking displacement and vulnerability toward East Jerusalem’s residents, and the application of urban planning that impacts negatively on residents’ legal status. Dr Margalit presents a profound sociological and economic analysis of a city under a “normalised” occupation which has destroyed the very essence of what Jerusalem stands for: a reflection of diverse religious belief within a multicultural setting, where citizens’ rights are upheld and not discriminated against for political purpose.

Dr Meir Margalit is an authority on municipal policy for East Jerusalem. Until November 2013 he served as a member of the city council of the Jerusalem Municipality on behalf of the left-wing party MERETZ, holding the city council’s East Jerusalem portfolio. That position enabled Dr. Margalit to assist in advancing  solutions to the Arab eastern part of the city. He was co-founder and field co-ordinator of the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions (ICAHD), and today heads the board of the Center for Advancement of Peace Initiatives (CAPI).