Ir Amim works on a continuous basis with Palestinian not-profit organizations and  development corporations in the various neighborhoods of East Jerusalem, with the purpose of strengthening independent civil society organizations in East Jerusalem.  Currently, Ir Amim supports nine such organizations in East Jerusalem.

Some of these groups are field organizations that represent the needs-on-the-ground of the neighborhoods in East Jerusalem.  Others are involved in wide-ranging activities which are related to a few neighborhoods of East Jerusalem together or the Palestinian community at large, for the purpose of extensive social change (eg. The Union of Parents Committees in East Jerusalem and Nuran, which provides emergency medical care for Palestinian residents of East Jerusalem).

Other activities of these organizations might include legal representation, negotiation with Israeli defense authorities, attempts to ease passage of people and goods at the checkpoints, and the prevention of house demolitions in East Jerusalem.  Likewise, the development corporations also work to create a link between their payment of city taxes and the receiving of municipal services, as well as to ensure a fair tax rate. 

Special emphasis is placed on the improvement of various aspects of community life, including neighbouhood infrastructure (sanitation, water, road  safety and repair, sidewalks), street utilities (streetlamps, bus stops, etc.), and neighborhood services (bus lines, mail delivery, neighborhood clinics, public pay phones, maintenance of communication lines, waste collection, etc.).  Emphasis is also placed on expediting the approval of a statutory plan which would enable the zoning of empty lots for neighborhood purposes such as public parks and school sites.

* Views expressed by organizations described on, or linked to, this web site do not necessarily reflect the views of Ir Amim.