Jews are almost five times less likely to begin construction in east Jerusalem than in the capital's west, a report commissioned by Israel Hayom ahead of Jerusalem Day and conducted by the Jerusalem Institute for Policy Research reveals.
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According to data, construction on 1,310 residential buildings began by Jews in east Jerusalem within the last three years, compared to 5,016 in west Jerusalem.
In 2018, 797 Jewish building starts were recorded in eastern Jerusalem, compared to 1,430 in the west. In 2019, 335 building starts were recorded in the city's east compared to 2,031 in its west. Last year saw 178 projects break ground compared to 1,555, respectively.
The report offers two possible explanations for the striking contrast. First, despite the government denying it, political pressure exerted by Europe and the United States limits Jewish construction in east Jerusalem. Second, there is a relatively small amount of land available for construction in that part of the capital to begin with, which is also partially the result of the political restrictions.
The annual demand for residential units for Jews in all of Jerusalem is 5,000, of which only 2,100 are supplied, leaving many Jerusalemites no option but to move elsewhere.
Yair Assaf-Shapira, head of Data Analysis and Services at the Jerusalem Institute for Policy Research, is of the opinion that Jerusalemites moving to the suburbs of the capital is not necessarily a bad thing.
"Jerusalemites who move to Gush Etzion, Mevasseret [Zion], Maale Adumim and Beit Shemesh stay connected to the city. In many respects, Jerusalem is still the center of their lives," he said.
The demographic issue can be set aside, not only because these cities are close to the capital, but also because of the high birth rate among Jewish women, 4.4 children, compared to 3.1 for Arab women, Shapiro explained.
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