Israel presents its elections as proof of democracy, but 391,400 Palestinians in East Jerusalem cannot vote in them. Israel does not consider them citizens, but only "permanent residents", even though they pay taxes and Israeli law prohibits them from voting in the general elections. Their Israeli settler neighbors, about 246,100 of whom live in lands occupied by Israel since 1967, vote with full rights in Knesset elections. The Palestinians in Jerusalem are among the most affected by the Israeli government. In 2024, Israel destroyed a record 255 buildings in East Jerusalem, including 181 houses. At the same time, 120 settlement plans were approved, covering about 11,000 housing units, and only 57 plans for Palestinians, covering about 1,000 units, the lowest in a decade.

Israel presents its elections as proof of democracy, but 391,400 Palestinians in East Jerusalem cannot vote in them. Israel does not consider them citizens, but only "permanent residents", even though they pay taxes and Israeli law prohibits them from voting in the general elections. Their Israeli settler neighbors, about 246,100 of whom live in lands occupied by Israel since 1967, vote with full rights in Knesset elections. The Palestinians in Jerusalem are among the most affected by the Israeli government. In 2024, Israel destroyed a record 255 buildings in East Jerusalem, including 181 houses. At the same time, 120 settlement plans were approved, covering about 11,000 housing units, and only 57 plans for Palestinians, covering about 1,000 units, the lowest in a decade.