Number of settlers in East Jerusalem in decline

The number of illegal settlers living in occupied East Jerusalem has reduced to ten per cent while Palestinians make up 61 per cent of the area’s population, a study by the Jerusalem Institute for Policy Studies has shown.

In 1990, Jews made up 49 per cent of the area which was illegally annexed by Israeli in 1967, with Palestinians making up the remainder of population, the research centre’s report has revealed.

However, despite their larger numbers, Palestinians own only one third of the number of apartments owned by Jews in East Jerusalem. The study revealed that illegal settlers own 186,000 flats in occupied East Jerusalem while Palestinians only own 54,500.

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The right-wing Israeli centre warned that the data could have serious political ramifications in future negotiations regarding the city, stressing that the Palestinians’ demographic majority reinforces their demand to claim East Jerusalem as their capital.

It added that with Donald Trump as president of the US, Israel now has the perfect opportunity to change the reality on the ground in the occupied Holy City and increase settlement activity there.