The Jerusalem District Court this morning (Thursday) ruled on the petition of the Society for the Protection of Nature, the organization Save the Jerusalem Mountains and the organization 15 Minutes regarding the level separation plan at the Ora intersection - one of the plans to build the road system towards the capital in the Jerusalem mountains.
An area of significant environmental importance, photo: Dodi Vaaknin
The ruling stated that an environmental review is required, since it is a sensitive area and within an area with extensive environmental effects.
The state's plan for the opposite intersection includes level separation, and the main essence of the plan: tunneling at the underground level at this intersection using two two-lane tunnels heading north and south, and above them a road widening on the surface of the ground.
This plan also requires auxiliary areas to organize for the planned massive quarrying works.
The appellants petitioned against this plan on the grounds that no review was ordered regarding the possibility of environmental damage in an area that is sensitive in terms of its natural values.
Will the area be destroyed?
(archive), photo: Dodi Vaaknin
Regarding this, Judge Alexander Ron wrote that: "It can be determined that at the very least there is a fear of environmental damage that is not negligible."
As mentioned, against the background of this possibility of damage, the judge ruled that the plan will not be promoted without the preparation of an in-depth review that will examine the damage to the natural values in the area by the plan.
In response to the ruling, the companies that filed the petition stated that: "We welcome the court's decision which unequivocally stated that there is a crucial importance to an in-depth environmental review when it comes to a plan with environmental effects in such an environmentally sensitive area as the Jerusalem Mountains.
"This is a tremendous achievement and an important step for the city of Jerusalem with better, greener public transportation and with more balanced planning. We call on the government to stop the development plans in the Jerusalem mountains, and to preserve this space as a national asset for the benefit of the Jerusalem public and all residents of Israel."
were we wrong
We will fix it!
If you found an error in the article, we would appreciate it if you shared it with us
