Over the course of our three-month long investigation, “Silwan: Al-Aqsa Garrison,” we discovered tunnels under construction beneath residential areas in Silwan and towards the southern walls of Al-Aqsa Mosque. Our investigation included the review of more than thirty written sources and consultation with specialists in Jerusalem affairs, amid a blackout of information by the Antiquities Authority and the Elad Settlement Association about any such excavations.
We faced numerous security difficulties while filming in an occupied area. However, the biggest challenge of all was compiling map drawings of an area that is blinded from satellites for security purposes. Ultimately, we were able to obtain a new and accurate survey of the northern neighborhoods of Silwan and Wadi Hilweh Street by way of aerial photography, which was very risky to obtain due to the constant threat of discovery by Israeli forces. With the geographical data we obtained, we were able to create an interactive map of the area. We also examined cases of homes threatened by the threat of eviction and demolition, which we set out to link to the geographical area documented by the investigation.
By examining the plans of the municipality and comparing information from sources, we uncovered a clear strategy to isolate Arab neighborhoods near the old municipality within a settlement belt with a Jewish demographic majority. Furthermore, we sought to link this to the reality of the strategic importance of that specific geographical location, given its proximity to the Old City and Al-Aqsa Mosque.
We would not have been able to complete this investigation without the hard work of our dedicated team, continuous professional supervision from the “Rest of story ” program, support from the “Sanad” team, and by the grace of God.