The proposal is based on Jerusalem as a capital for one bi-national, secular, and democratic state, where Palestinians and Israeli Jews live as equal citizens and enjoy full citizenship rights. After investigating points of crossing and borderlines in Jerusalem, I found that the Musrara neighborhood is an interesting area of visible segregation. The neighborhood part of the 1948-1967 no man’s land has been completely demolished. Houses and shops were erased and physical continuity of the city was interrupted. The neighborhood should be rebuilt with its historic context and texture into consideration. Through my proposal, the two sides will come together to build the no man’s land between them. The two sides should remember the past and should make peace with the Green Line, their divider, to be able to move beyond their problems and build a better future. Palestinians and Israelis together will show the world that they can live together. The scene of Palestinians throwing stones at Israeli jeeps will be replaced by a scene of Palestinians and Israelis carrying stones to build their past and future. Architects and artists from the two sides, and possibly other parts of the world, will organize the events and the building activity, they will prepare careful plans for the Musrara no man’s land area, to be followed by other parts of the city later. The building will take into consideration the history of the area, and build the area that will stitch a torn part of the city back together. Both the Palestinian and the Israeli public should take an active part in the decisions that affects their lives and the future of the city. The different public and non-profit organizations act as an important base for public actions and awareness.
