The 1970 Judicial Arrangements Law continues to pose a threat to Palestinian lands in East Jerusalem, serving as a legal tool for the restitution of lands in favor of settlement groups. This law, also known as the Yemenite Jewish Properties, is exploited by the Benvenisti trust and settlement associations to achieve their objectives.
The roots of this conflict trace back to the late 19th century, when Jewish donors established the Benvenisti trust to purchase lands in the Silwan area with the aim of housing Yemenite Jews. This initiative laid the groundwork for a residential nucleus later known as the Yemenite Village, which persisted until 1938 when the British evacuated the residents citing security tensions, before demolishing their homes. However, the land remained registered under the trust's name, forming a legal basis for modern claims.
Details of the Situation
Following the occupation of East Jerusalem in 1967, Palestinians began settling in neighborhoods such as Batan al-Hawa and Sheikh Jarrah, relying on previous ownership contracts and purchase certificates. However, these properties were not recognized as being on lands registered under Jewish trusts, rendering them vulnerable to legal disputes.
The 1970 Judicial Arrangements Law was enacted after the Israeli occupation, allowing Jews who owned properties before 1948 to legally claim them, without granting Palestinians any similar rights to reclaim their properties in the western part of the city. This law created a clear legal duality, granting one party the right to restitution while denying the other.
Background & Context
The Ateret Cohanim association, which was granted guardianship over the Benvenisti trust in 2001, has relied on this law as a primary tool for land seizure. The association utilized historical documents from the trust to file lawsuits in Israeli courts, claiming that current Palestinians are illegal occupants and that the lands belong to Jews from Yemen.
As a result, the association began filing hundreds of eviction lawsuits in the neighborhoods of Batan al-Hawa and Sheikh Jarrah, obtaining court orders in its favor, leading to forced evictions often supported by the Israeli police. In late 2025 and early 2026, the Israeli Supreme Court rejected Palestinian appeals against eviction decisions, paving the way for further waves of forced seizures.
Impact & Consequences
The association's activities extend beyond the judiciary; it employs legal entities, shell companies, and intermediaries to register properties or indirectly purchase specific rights. It also offers financial incentives to families in exchange for vacating their homes, allowing for faster consolidation of land control.
The association exerts long-term legal pressure, including repeated summons, legal letters, and document demands, which burdens Palestinian families both psychologically and financially, leading to forced displacement from their lands. These actions have transformed the law, which was supposed to be a tool for reclaiming historical ownership, into a political and demographic instrument aimed at expanding settlement presence in East Jerusalem.
Regional Significance
The 1970 Law, through settlement associations, intermediaries, and courts, has become an effective tool for altering the demographic reality of East Jerusalem. By exploiting ancient Jewish trust properties, Palestinians are forcibly displaced, and historic neighborhoods are reshaped in favor of settlers, representing a blatant violation of the rights of the local population and international law provisions.
Ultimately, this situation underscores the urgent need for international action to protect the rights of Palestinians in East Jerusalem, as the continuation of these policies threatens regional stability and deepens the ongoing conflict.