Isn’t it interesting how a place can carry so much history within its borders? We are standing in Homat Shmuel. It is officially named after Shmuel Meir. He was a former deputy mayor of Jerusalem. Shmuel Meir played a key role in Homat Shmuel’s development. Sadly, he died in a car accident in 1996. The neighborhood was renamed in 1998 to honor him.
Homat Shmuel is located in southern East Jerusalem. It sits near the Palestinian city of Beit Sahour. You may hear it called Jabal Abu Ghneim. That is the Arabic name for the hill it occupies. One stated purpose for building Homat Shmuel was to prevent Bethlehem from expanding.
Let’s delve into the past of Homat Shmuel. Since the Six-Day War in 1967, this area has been under Israeli occupation. In 1997, Israel reportedly took land from Umm Tuba for Homat Shmuel. Hundreds of dunams were also taken from Beit Sahour.
Plans for residential development began in the 1980s. Israeli environmental groups initially opposed these plans. Their goal was to preserve Jerusalem’s open spaces. A primary aim was to complete the Israeli encirclement in East Jerusalem. This would hinder Palestinian development between Beit Sahour and Sur Baher.
In 1991, Israeli cabinet minister Yitzhak Moda’i approved the land expropriation. This land belonged to both Israeli and Palestinian private owners. The government invoked eminent domain for new building projects. Landowners protested but the Israeli Supreme Court sided with the government. David Meir, a major landholder, joined with Arab landowners to block the development.
Some of the original land may have belonged to the Greek Orthodox Church. It was allegedly sold or leased under Israeli pressure. In 1995, Arab states brought the issue to the UN Security Council. The US vetoed a draft resolution condemning Israel.
In 1997, the newly elected Benjamin Netanyahu government approved construction. Arab states returned to the Security Council. The General Assembly condemned Israel. However, the US vetoed two UNSC resolutions in March. Netanyahu viewed building in Homat Shmuel as legitimate expansion of Jerusalem.
In 2015, Netanyahu stated they needed to protect Jerusalem’s southern gateway by building here. He acknowledged the huge objection. Homat Shmuel prevents Palestinian territorial contiguity. In 2020, Netanyahu announced plans for 6,200 more homes in Homat Shmuel. Critics saw this as an effort to solidify right-wing support before the Israeli 2020 election.
As of 2013, Homat Shmuel had many facilities. There were 12 kindergartens. Six day care centers existed alongside five elementary schools. Four youth movement centers served the community. Most residents are young families seeking affordable housing.
Interestingly, when Jerusalem approved housing units in Homat Shmuel, it also approved units in the Arab neighborhood of Sur Baher. These plans aimed to counterbalance Israeli development. Palestinian officials saw it as a ploy to deflect international criticism.
Israeli officials admit that some Palestinian land was taken for Homat Shmuel. They claim nearly 80% of the land belonged to Jews. Other sources say 75% was taken from Israelis. Israel asserts that Homat Shmuel is within Jerusalem’s city limits. Therefore, construction doesn’t change Jerusalem’s status under the Oslo Accords.
Palestinians believe Israel is tightening its control over Jerusalem by constructing Homat Shmuel. The US has historically refrained from calling Jerusalem neighborhoods settlements. However, in 2008, Condoleezza Rice criticized building tenders in Homat Shmuel. She called it a settlement the US opposed from the beginning.
In 1997, archaeologists found a fifth-century Byzantine church near Homat Shmuel. Its octagonal design may have inspired the Dome of the Rock. This church, the Church of the Kathisma, was a pilgrimage site. It was built by a Roman widow named Ikelia. In the eighth century, it was converted into a mosque. Both Christians and Muslims used it until its destruction. Perhaps an earthquake in 749 caused this destruction. Homat Shmuel stands as a place of modern life built upon layers of ancient history and complex political realities.