Driven by political aims and economic realities, Atarot Industrial Park stands as a testament to Jerusalem’s complex history. It is the largest industrial park in the Jerusalem area. Today we will explore Atarot.
Atarot Industrial Park sits between Bayt Hanina and the Qalandiya checkpoint in East Jerusalem. You can enter it from highway 45 or alongside the annexation wall. One entrance shows a well-funded industrial zone. The other reveals the contrast between Palestinian areas and the wall.
Established in 1970 by the Jerusalem Economic Corporation, Atarot Industrial Park covers 1,530 dunums. This land once belonged to Bayt Hanina. Israel aims to establish Jerusalem as its undivided capital. To achieve this, it has established settlements like Atarot. These settlements aim to create facts on the ground.
Originally, Zionist settlers established Atarot in 1912. They purchased land through the Jewish National Fund. The lands were abandoned during World War I. Later, British authorities built Jerusalem Airport there in 1920. The settlement was reestablished in 1922.
In 1945, Jewish-owned land in Atarot was about 433 dunums. Only 33 dunums were considered built-up. By May 1948, inhabitants evacuated the settlement to join fighting in Neve Ya’akov.
After occupying East Jerusalem in 1967, Israel expanded Jerusalem’s boundaries. It began taking land around East Jerusalem. Since then, the Israeli government has expropriated about 26,300 dunums of Palestinian-owned land.
In 2001, the Jerusalem airport closed and was taken over by the Ministry of Defense. The industrial zone’s occupancy rate fell to 30 percent. This allowed Palestinian businesses to increase their presence. Currently, Atarot has 160 factories with 4,000 employees. Three-quarters are Palestinian and the rest are Jewish. Most Palestinians are non-professional workers. Most Jews hold management and sales positions.
Israel provides incentives to attract settlers and businesses to Atarot. It is considered a “national priority A” area. Businesses here receive lower land costs and tax rates. The Jerusalem Development Authority also provides grants to companies that relocate to Jerusalem.
Israel has considered building a residential settlement in Atarot. Plans were delayed due to pressure from the United States. However, in 2017, plans emerged to build five thousand housing units in Atarot.
Atarot exists within Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territory. Policies carve and divide Palestinian land. They separate Palestinians with barriers and ID systems. These policies consolidate Israel’s annexation of the city. Palestinians face obstructed economies and saturated markets.
Many Palestinians working in Atarot are there due to a stagnating labor market. A 2011 study found that 82 percent of Palestinian workers would leave their jobs in settlements if they had suitable alternatives.
Palestinian businesses in Atarot often underscore that Israeli policies throughout the West Bank influence their decision to locate in the settlement. One business owner stated that there was no land appropriate for expansion in Bayt Hanina so he moved to Atarot. Another said he had no other options.
Most Palestinian business owners did not view moving into other parts of the West Bank as viable due to daily checkpoints and operating costs.
In 2016, Israeli businessman Rami Levy opened a mall in Atarot. It was touted as the “first Israeli-Palestinian mall.” However, the mall has faced boycott calls. Critics say it contributes to the expansion of the settlement enterprise at the expense of Palestinian land.
Atarot Industrial Park reflects the ongoing tensions and complex realities of Jerusalem. It shows the challenges Palestinians face. It also shows their resilience in the face of occupation. The park remains a focal point of political and economic struggle in the region. It stands as a symbol of a city divided yet intertwined.