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From Our Own Correspondent: The battle over property in East Jerusalem

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The battle over property in East Jerusalem

22/05/2021 GMT

BBC World Service - From Our Own Correspondent, The battle over property in East Jerusalem

The planned eviction of Palestinians reignites deeper tensions

In the neighbourhood of Sheikh Jarrah, the plan to evict eight Palestinian families triggered widespread protests. The situation spiralled into a conflict between Gaza and Israel.

In East Jerusalem, a battle over property has proved to be a lightning rod for long held tensions and unresolved grievances. In the small neighbourhood of Sheikh Jarrah, protesters have been trying to stop Israel evicting eight Palestinian families. This, along with complaints of heavy handed policing of the Al Aqsa compound during Ramadan has ignited a conflict which lasted over a week, with rockets being fired from Gaza and Israeli air strikes. A ceasefire has now been agreed but the fighting has stirred deep resentments on both sides. Paul Adams visits Sheikh Jarrah.

In Afghanistan earlier this month, a devastating triple bombing outside a secondary school in Kabul shattered confidence in the country as the US and Nato prepare for a full troop withdrawal later this year. More than 60 people – mostly girls – were killed in the explosions in a neighbourhood in western Kabul. The country has recently seen an increase in violence and targeted attacks and there is growing apprehension the Taliban will play a more dominant role in a future Afghan government, posing a threat to women’s rights. Lyse Doucet has been in Kabul 

Jakarta is one of the world’s most polluted cities and a lawsuit has been brought against the president and other top officials by 32 Jakarta residents who are concerned about the impact dirty air is having on their family’s health. The BBC’s Asia editor, Rebecca Henschke lived for over a decade in Jakarta and says poor air quality was one of the reasons she left.
 
In Washington, things are somewhat calmer in  President Biden’s White House than they were under Donald Trump. The salvos via Twitter; heated exchanges with journalists and a more flamboyant leadership style have been replaced with carefully calibrated messaging and a more choreographed approach. Anthony Zurcher reflects on the new sense of order and normality – and whether that is always a good thing.

(Image: Israeli riot police arrest a Palestinian protester at a demonstration in front of an Israeli settler's house in Sheikh Jarrah. Credit: Emmanuel Dunand/AFP via Getty Images)

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