INTERNATIONAL POLICY ANALYSIS Jerusalem: Still Key to Any Future Israeli-Palestinian Agreement ZIAD ABUZAYYAD, HILLEL SCHENKER, INGRID ROSS March 2013  Jerusalem remains a key factor for any future political settlement between Israel and Palestine and for the shaping of the relationship between Israel and the Arab and Muslim countries. Israeli policies in Jerusalem not only affect its Palestinian population but pose a severe threat to the possibility of resolving the Arab-Israeli conflict by political means.  Israeli policies in Jerusalem since its annexation in 1967 have sparked much criticism throughout the world. Many UN Security Council Resolutions have deplored Israeli legisla­tive and administrative measures and practices affecting Jerusalem and considered them null and void, called upon Israel to rescind all such measures and to refrain from unilateral actions. However, Israel has continued to create facts on the ground to change the geo/demographic nature and realities in Jerusalem and to transform it into a predomi­nantly Jewish city.  The official response by the Palestinian Authority(PA) and the Palestine Liberation Organization(PLO) on the political level to Israeli discriminatory policies has been frag­mented, disorganized, inadequate and unable to take concrete action against the Israeli occupation. The Oslo Accords have also prohibited the PA from any activities in Jerusalem.  The International Community and the UN agencies should play a crucial third party role in deterring unauthorized Israeli measures and in facilitating and fostering a climate of dialogue towards a peaceful resolution of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, including the future status of Jerusalem. The humanitarian situation of Palestinians in the city must also be addressed. A key factor for peace in the region, Jerusalem must be brought back onto the political map – this is of the utmost urgency.