House Hunting in Kafr 'Aqab
Keyword: 
Jerusalem
occupation
Demolition
Palestine
Wall
Israeli permanent residency
dispossession
land politics
home ownership
Abstract: 

Kafr 'Aqab is an annexed neighborhood at the northern end of East Jerusalem, squeezed between Ramallah and the Wall. Many observers and journalists wrongly assume it is simply a congested suburb of Ramallah, usually regarded by passersby as a concrete jungle. The reality of Kafr ‘Aqab is far more interesting and diverse. Upwards of 125,000 Palestinians of varying statuses and situations, call the neighborhood home. This essay explores some of the challenges faced by Kafr ‘Aqab residents, through a story of a newlywed couple’s search for an apartment to buy

Author biography: 

Chris Whitman-Abdelkarim is the representative for Medico International in Palestine/Israel. He obtained his MA from Hebrew University in Jerusalem in Islamic and Middle Eastern studies and has worked at a number of Palestinian and Israeli NGOs since 2011 on issues such as labor rights, the Jordan Valley, settlements, and human rights.