Amman– The "Eye on Jerusalem" program, aired on Jordanian television on Monday, addressed the pressures exerted by the Israeli occupation government on Jerusalemites aimed at Judaizing the city of Jerusalem by displacing its Palestinian residents.
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The program also highlighted the escalating incursions and attacks targeting Al-Aqsa Mosque and the attempts by the far-right Israeli government to alter its status quo.
According to the program’s report from Jerusalem, Jerusalemites were shocked at the beginning of the new year by a sharp increase in property taxes, known as "Arnona." This rise exacerbates the economic crisis faced by Palestinians in the holy city.
The Israeli occupation municipality is reportedly working to create an environment that drives Jerusalemites out by imposing a high cost of living.
It is now "nearly impossible for an Arab Jerusalemite merchant to operate without issues with Israeli institutions."
Jerusalemite merchant Helmi Salaimeh noted that these issues are overwhelming for merchants, preventing them from meeting their obligations and ultimately forcing them to sell their shops.
Experts in the report emphasized that the Jerusalem municipality and the Israeli government use the "Arnona" tax specifically as a tool to financially punish and exhaust Jerusalemites. This tax is the highest in Jerusalem compared to other cities.
Ziad Al-Hamouri, Director of the Jerusalem Center for Economic Affairs, explained that the Israeli government employs both visible and invisible pressures on Jerusalemites.
Visible pressures include home demolitions, arrests, inspections, and altering the city’s landmarks, while taxes represent an invisible form of pressure, creating significant anxiety for Jerusalemites.
He added that over 70% of Jerusalemites are indebted to this tax.
On Al-Aqsa Mosque, the report warned that 2025 is expected to be a challenging year for the mosque.
The Israeli occupation exploits the "unjustified" Arab and Islamic absence regarding Al-Aqsa to escalate violations by extremist Jewish groups, supported by the far-right Israeli government, causing heightened concern among Jerusalemites about what lies ahead.
The report indicated that Al-Aqsa Mosque is experiencing "its worst days," with extremists openly violating its courtyards and performing religious rituals under the protection of the occupation police and encouragement from government ministers who participate in these incursions.
If the current Arab and Islamic neglect of Al-Aqsa’s violations continues, while the extremist Israeli government seeks to change the status quo of the first Qibla, the consequences will be dire for Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa Mosque, the report warned.
Khalil Assali, a Jerusalem journalist and member of the Jerusalem Waqf Council, said the unprecedented desecration of Al-Aqsa’s sanctity by Israeli organizations could lead to an unpredictable explosion.
He accused the Israeli government of exploiting the Gaza war and the resulting state of emergency, alongside Arab silence and Islamic "betrayal," to advance its plans.
He urged Arab nations to fulfill their duty toward the first Qibla and the third holiest site in Islam. Calls within Jerusalem are growing to defend and protect Al-Aqsa Mosque from occupation schemes aiming to seize control of it.
Political and economic analyst Ahmed Al-Safadi emphasized the need for Arab and Islamic action to protect holy sites, starting with Jordan and Palestine.
He underscored the importance of the Hashemite Custodianship over Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, praising its significant role in safeguarding and defending these sites.
Professor of Political Science and International Relations at the University of Jordan, Dr. Hassan Al-Barari, highlighted that successive Israeli governments after 2000 have consistently prioritized settlement and expansion, making settlement support a fundamental principle within Israel.
Al-Barari noted that the "Arnona" property tax is one of the tools used by the Israeli government to Judaize the city and expel its Palestinian residents.
The demographic and religious dimensions remain central to the occupation’s agenda.
The report concluded by emphasizing the need for strengthened Arab and Islamic coordination to confront these challenges, asserting that the increasing violence by the Israeli side reflects its own fragility, despite its propaganda and political maneuvers under a religious guise.
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