Jabal al-Mukaber

Basic Information

Type

Town

Governorate

Jerusalem

Region

Jerusalem

Overview

Jabal al-Mukaber is a predominantly Palestinian neighborhood in southeast occupied East Jerusalem, located on a ridge with panoramic views over the Old City and the Judean Desert. The name honors a companion of the Prophet Muhammad who is said to have proclaimed 'Allahu Akbar' ('God is Great') from this hill during the 638 CE Islamic conquest of Jerusalem. The neighborhood was substantially settled by members of the Bedouin Sawarha tribe around the turn of the 20th century, who transitioned from nomadic pastoralism to settled agriculture and urban life. During the British Mandate, the prestigious Hill of Evil Counsel — the British High Commissioner's residence — was built on the ridge. Since 1967, Jabal al-Mukaber has been under Israeli occupation, and hundreds of dunams of its land have been confiscated for settlement construction. The East Talpiot (Armon Hanatziv) settlement was built on 544 dunams of Jabal al-Mukaber land in 1971, and the Nof Zion settler compound was established on an additional 140 dunams in 2010 — a particularly egregious case of settlement within a Palestinian neighborhood.

Historical Significance

Named after the legendary cry of 'Allahu Akbar' by Umar ibn al-Khattab's companion. During the British Mandate, the British High Commissioner's residence was located here.

Sources and record limitations

Source detail varies by record. Some entries include document and page references; others supply source names only. Check the cited material and the record's limitations before relying on a specific claim.

• Ir Amim
• B'Tselem
• UN OCHA
• ARIJ
• PCBS
• Peace Now
• BADIL Resource Center

Bedouin community