Confiscated land tells a silent story here at the Allenby Compound. This is where the new US embassy in Jerusalem will stand. It is a place laden with history and controversy.
The Allenby Compound’s story is rooted in the aftermath of the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. This is also known as the Nakba. Around 750,000 Palestinians were displaced. The owners of this land became refugees. Israeli authorities then confiscated their property. They used the 1950 Israeli Absentees’ Property Law.
Before 1948, prominent Palestinian families owned this land. The Habib, Qleibo, Khalidi, Razzaq, and Khalili families are among the original landlords. They leased their properties to British Mandate authorities. The British established the Allenby Barracks military base here. Records show the British paid the owners 30 pounds per dunam each year.
Fast forward to February 2021. The US State Department and the Israel Land Authority jointly submitted plans. These plans detailed a US diplomatic compound in the Allenby Complex. It is near Hebron Road in southern Jerusalem. This location is now a permanent US embassy site. The US embassy moved to Jerusalem in May 2018. This followed President Donald Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
The embassy currently operates from a temporary site. It is in Jerusalem’s Arnona neighborhood. The new complex will include an embassy, offices, and residences. There will be parking and security structures as well. Buildings can be no more than 10 stories high. The surrounding wall will be 3.5 meters high.
The Jerusalem Municipality published the zoning description. It designated Derech Hebron between Hanoch Albek and Daniel Yanovsky Streets. This area is known as Camp Allenby. Fleur Hassan-Nahoum is Jerusalem’s Deputy Mayor. She stated the embassy will upgrade the urban landscape. It will also connect it to all areas of the capital. This will be through the Jerusalem Light Rail network.
However, the location is not without controversy. The Adalah group published archives revealing the land’s history. Descendants of the original owners live in East Jerusalem and the US. Rashid Khalidi is a renowned Palestinian-American historian. He is a descendant of one of the families. Khalidi says the US government is infringing on property rights. He states the legitimate owners include US citizens. Families of the landowners have demanded cancellation of the plans.
The Allenby Compound embodies layers of history. It reflects conflicts, displacement, and political decisions. As the new US embassy rises here, it is essential to remember the past. It is important to remember the families who once called this land home. The story of the Allenby Compound is a complex tale. It involves land, loss, and the ongoing struggle for justice in Jerusalem. It is a story etched in the very ground beneath our feet.