[MakkabI]
July 27th, 2004, 05:36 PM
Green groups presented 16,000 objections to the 'Safdi' Jerusalem development plan to the National Planning and Construction Committee on Sunday. Organizers said it is the highest number of objections to a single construction plan in the State's history.
Demonstrators from the Coalition for the Preservation of the Jerusalem Hills, an amalgamation of concerned environment groups including the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel (SPNI) and Keren Kayemet L'Yisrael (KKL), gathered at the Interior Ministry in Jerusalem to present several cardboard boxes containing folders with over 16,000 objections to development plan 37 for western Jerusalem, known as the Safdi Plan.
Among those present were Chairman of the House Interior and Environment Committee MK Yuri Shtern (National Union), Chairman of the Knesset Environment Lobby Michael Melchior (Labor-Meimad), and Mayor of Mevasseret Zion Karmi Gilo.
The Environment Ministry is also opposed to the plan and Environment Minister Yehudit Naot recently asked Interior Minister Avraham Poraz to reconsider the plan.
Stern said the Safdi plan should be relegated to a back-up plan for if and when the Jerusalem population grows beyond the capital's housing capabilities.
"There are plenty of places to build [in the city]," Shtern said and called the Safdi plan an 'easy solution' that would destroy the environment.
Jerusalem City Spokesman Gidi Schmerling said the Jerusalem Development Authority, the Israel Lands Authority, and the Jerusalem City Council will contend with all objections in the forum of the National Planning and Construction Committee.
"The Jerusalem City Council has said in the past and still maintains today that the development to the west of the city is a suitable plan," Schmerling said and recalled a 2003 agreement between the development bodies and the green groups that approved the Safdi plan.
However, last, month the SPNI, KKL and the Israel Nature and Parks Authority withdrew from the agreement after claiming the City Council had renegade on its part of the agreement for a new national park to maintain a green strip to the west of the city.
"If the plan goes ahead the interests of property developers will have overcome the interests of Jerusalem's residents," Melchior said.
In addition to its environmental impact Melchior claimed that development to the west of the capital will draw population away for the current city center taking commerce with it. Melchior noted that the Knesset Environment Lobby, which numbers some 40 MKs, is unanimous in its objection to the plan.
"I believe justice will out," he said.
The Safdi plan is backed by the Jerusalem City Council, the Jerusalem Development Authority, and the Israel Lands Authority and calls for some 26,000 new housing units to be built on over 20 square kilometers of open space.
Objectors to the plan say high-rise construction can provide abundant housing within the current city limits.
Demonstrators from the Coalition for the Preservation of the Jerusalem Hills, an amalgamation of concerned environment groups including the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel (SPNI) and Keren Kayemet L'Yisrael (KKL), gathered at the Interior Ministry in Jerusalem to present several cardboard boxes containing folders with over 16,000 objections to development plan 37 for western Jerusalem, known as the Safdi Plan.
Among those present were Chairman of the House Interior and Environment Committee MK Yuri Shtern (National Union), Chairman of the Knesset Environment Lobby Michael Melchior (Labor-Meimad), and Mayor of Mevasseret Zion Karmi Gilo.
The Environment Ministry is also opposed to the plan and Environment Minister Yehudit Naot recently asked Interior Minister Avraham Poraz to reconsider the plan.
Stern said the Safdi plan should be relegated to a back-up plan for if and when the Jerusalem population grows beyond the capital's housing capabilities.
"There are plenty of places to build [in the city]," Shtern said and called the Safdi plan an 'easy solution' that would destroy the environment.
Jerusalem City Spokesman Gidi Schmerling said the Jerusalem Development Authority, the Israel Lands Authority, and the Jerusalem City Council will contend with all objections in the forum of the National Planning and Construction Committee.
"The Jerusalem City Council has said in the past and still maintains today that the development to the west of the city is a suitable plan," Schmerling said and recalled a 2003 agreement between the development bodies and the green groups that approved the Safdi plan.
However, last, month the SPNI, KKL and the Israel Nature and Parks Authority withdrew from the agreement after claiming the City Council had renegade on its part of the agreement for a new national park to maintain a green strip to the west of the city.
"If the plan goes ahead the interests of property developers will have overcome the interests of Jerusalem's residents," Melchior said.
In addition to its environmental impact Melchior claimed that development to the west of the capital will draw population away for the current city center taking commerce with it. Melchior noted that the Knesset Environment Lobby, which numbers some 40 MKs, is unanimous in its objection to the plan.
"I believe justice will out," he said.
The Safdi plan is backed by the Jerusalem City Council, the Jerusalem Development Authority, and the Israel Lands Authority and calls for some 26,000 new housing units to be built on over 20 square kilometers of open space.
Objectors to the plan say high-rise construction can provide abundant housing within the current city limits.