ABSTRACT
Chapter 5 presents a detailed case study of the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood in East Jerusalem, where a legal struggle over housing rights has been taking place for nearly five decades. Through a review of legal cases in Israeli courts, supported by interviews, the picture of the legal struggle of the residents facing a threat of eviction is reflected. This chapter sheds light on the legal tools that Israeli authorities use to maintain control and power over housing rights in Sheikh Jarrah by detailing the procedure that the families need to go through in the case of eviction, prior to the eviction, on the day of the eviction, and on the day after. This chapter demonstrates how the law has been used to shape the political struggle over Jerusalem in favour of Israel. As Jewish settlements continue to increase in Arab neighbourhoods in East Jerusalem, it has been revealed how law has become a useful tool for authorities to maintain power and spatial control. The final section of this chapter evaluates the usefulness of the current legal system to protect Palestinian residents facing forced eviction.
