On May 21, 2025, the second steering committee of the Community Safety on the Jerusalem Seam Line Project convened—and with it came creative thinking, bold ideas, and deep collaboration.
This groundbreaking initiative is more than just a safety program—it’s a reimagining of what it means for Jerusalemites, East and West, to feel safe where they live, work, and raise their families. Against a backdrop of growing tension and uncertainty, the project is developing a community-centered safety model that bridges divides and fosters practical cooperation.
The program is currently being piloted in four neighborhoods, each chosen for its complexity and significance:
- Beit Hanina and Kufr Aqeb (East Jerusalem, Palestinian communities)
- Ramot (a predominantly Haredi neighborhood)
- French Hill (a mixed community of Jews and Arabs)
These neighborhoods are not only geographically located along the city’s “Seam Line”—they also represent the broader social seams of the city. The initiative focuses on identifying local safety concerns and creating tailored, community-led responses. In each place, collaboration between residents, police, local government, and civil society is key.
Who Was in the Room?
The steering committee meetings bring together a powerful coalition:
- Jerusalem Municipality officials
- Israel Association of Community Centers (IACC)
- Jerusalem Institute for Policy Research (JIPR)
- Community leaders from diverse sectors
- Israel Police and IDF Home Front Command
- Philanthropic partners and donors
Each came with unique expertise—but they shared a common goal: making Jerusalem’s neighborhoods safer, more resilient, and more connected.
At the heart of this initiative is a belief that safety isn’t about enforcement—it’s about trust. When residents feel they are heard, respected, and empowered, safety grows. By building working relationships between diverse community stakeholders, the project aims to reduce tensions and increase resilience—not just in these four neighborhoods, but citywide. As the program evolves, it will offer a scalable model that can be applied in other complex urban settings—across Jerusalem and beyond.
Stay tuned as we follow the journey of this inspiring initiative and the communities leading the way.