The Ir David Foundation, commonly known as Elad or the City of David Foundation, is an Israeli nonprofit organization established in 1986 and based in Jerusalem. It focuses on strengthening the Jewish connection to Jerusalem through archaeological excavations, tourism development, education, and settlement activities in the City of David area, which is archaeologically significant as the biblical heart of ancient Jerusalem but overlaps with the Palestinian neighborhood of Silwan in East Jerusalem, a territory captured by Israel in 1967 and considered occupied under international law. The foundation engages in activities such as developing archaeological sites, operating visitor centers, acquiring properties, and promoting residential development to establish and expand Jewish settlements in the region, often through purchases facilitated by international donors and shadow organizations. It receives significant pass-through funding from international donors, particularly U.S. sources via fiscal sponsors like the Central Fund of Israel, with the largest single funder reportedly being Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich and his associated companies, along with undisclosed ties to the World Zionist Organization. In 2014, the organization was involved in purchasing apartments across seven buildings in Silwan through a U.S. shadow organization to bolster Jewish presence, leading to evictions and heightened tensions. Elad's initiatives are highly controversial for their role in settler activities in occupied East Jerusalem. Critics, including Palestinian residents, human rights groups, and organizations like Peace Now and Defund Racism, accuse the foundation of using selective archaeological claims and tourism development as pretexts to evict Palestinian residents and Judaize historically Palestinian areas, contributing to demographic changes and tensions in Silwan. The organization's efforts blend cultural preservation with ideological goals, positioning the City of David as a symbol of Jewish heritage while navigating complex geopolitical realities. It has faced condemnation for exacerbating conflicts in Silwan, with allegations of aggressive property acquisitions and partnerships with Israeli authorities to advance settlement policies. Despite these allegations, Elad maintains its work preserves biblical heritage and supports Jewish historical rights in the area, operating under the guise of cultural and educational nonprofit efforts while advancing settlement expansion. It continues to attract hundreds of thousands of tourists annually to its sites, reinforcing its influence in shaping narratives around Jerusalem's history and identity. Legal challenges and international scrutiny persist, but no major convictions against the organization are documented in available sources.