City Community - 2010 - Shlay - Making Place The Shifting Green Line and the Development of Greater Metropolitan (1)

Introduction to Making Place in Jerusalem

This paper discusses the complexities surrounding place-making in Jerusalem, highlighting how territorial dynamics have evolved post the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. Specifically, it elaborates on the Green Line, which represents the ceasefire boundaries established after this conflict.

Definition and Consequences of the Green Line

  • The Green Line originated in 1949 as a demarcation of Israel's borders, although it changed following the 1967 Six-Day War when Israel annexed territories.

  • The paper argues the shifting perceptions of the Green Line have led to the instability of Jerusalem's identity and exacerbate the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Frontier Cities and Social-Spatial Divisions

  • Jerusalem exemplifies a frontier city characterized by spatial separation and socio-political contests between different ethnic groups (Jews and Palestinians).

  • Place-making here is a dynamic process intertwined with power relations, where both sides contest rightful claims to territory.

Historical Context and Boundary Changes

  1. Pre-1948 Period:

    • Under Ottoman rule (16th century–1917), religious groups lived in segregated neighborhoods.

    • The British mandate continued this trend until the UN proposed partition in 1947.

  2. 1948-1967:

    • Post-war division created disconnected capital cities under Jordanian and Israeli control.

    • The armistice line became known as the Green Line after 1949.

  3. Post-1967 Developments:

    • Israel's capture of territories and subsequent urban expansion fostered a new metropolitan landscape, shifting perceptions of the Green Line.

    • Israeli policies intended to unify Jerusalem have altered its demographic and geographical boundaries, highlighting a shift in power dynamics.

The Role of Violence and Resistance

  • Acts of violence such as the intifadas and military responses significantly influenced planning and governance in Jerusalem.

  • The geographical division created by the wall/fence, constructed post-2000, further complicates everyday life and assists in the physical fragmentation of the city.

Political Implications

  • The development of neighborhoods and boundary expansions have broader geopolitical implications, including international responses and the ongoing struggle for Palestinian statehood.

  • Different narratives persist, with Israelis largely seeing development as legitimate while Palestinians uniformly view it as expansionist and a means of dispossessing their claims.

Conclusion: A Divided City

  • The shifting Green Line encapsulates the essence of power and territorial conflict within Jerusalem, creating an uncertain future for both communities.

  • Efforts from both sides to claim and legitimize their boundaries continue to drive the complex narrative surrounding Jerusalem, which remains a focal point of tension between Israel and Palestine.