Sheikh Jarrah settlement plan proposed for historic Shepheard Hotel site

The Israeli rights group ‘Ir Amim’ has revealed a new settlement plan to construct 122 housing units in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of East Jerusalem. The project, spearheaded by the settlement movement ‘Amana’, targets approximately 5.8 dunams at the site of the historic Shepheard Hotel.

The proposal includes the construction of residential buildings up to 12 stories high. While the plan involves the demolition of existing residential structures, it intends to preserve the historic hotel building associated with the former Mufti of Jerusalem. The project is currently in its preliminary stages, with the first local planning and building committee meeting scheduled for November 11, 2026.

‘Amana’ is led by Ze'ev Hever, a figure identified by critics as having ties to former militant organizations. The group is known for its role in establishing pastoral outposts in the West Bank. The land in question has undergone various ownership transfers, involving the ‘Custodian of Absentee Property’ and the ‘Ateret Cohanim’ settlement organization.