Environmental groups protest plan to expand Jerusalem westward
Green groups present data showing the capital has enough land for residential construction without expanding.
By Zafrir Rinat and Haaretz CorrespondentEnvironmental groups protested Tuesday against the Safdie plan, which calls for residential construction that would expand Jerusalem westward.
The groups also held a conference at which they presented data that, they said, proves that the capital has enough land reserves for residential construction without expanding the city - and, moreover, that there is no reason to build new neighborhoods.
Green Course - known in Hebrew as Megama Yeruka, a nationwide student environmental organization - accused Prime Minister Ehud Olmert of giving preference to the interests of the wealthy, who will profit from the construction, at the expense of the open areas in the Jerusalem hills that would be built up under the Safdie plan. Olmert was one of the people who initiated the plan, when he served as mayor of Jerusalem.
The Safdie plan calls for the construction of some 20,000 housing units on hills to the west of Jerusalem, as well as new roads to serve the new neighborhoods. The national council for planning and construction is expected to approve the plan when it meets to discuss it in three weeks. Opponents of the plan argue that it will weaken Jerusalem's downtown area and seriously damage the scenery of the Jerusalem hills.
Environmental groups have recently won some political backing for their struggle against the expansion plan: MKs from the Labor Party, the National Religious Party, Yisrael Beiteinu and Meretz have announced their opposition to the Safdie plan.
The Sustainable Jerusalem Coalition, which includes several environmental groups, has recently completed a comprehensive report documenting land reserves in Jerusalem that could support the city's projected population until 2020.
According to the report, the projected population increase in Jerusalem over the next two decades is 110,000 people, who will require an additional 37,000 housing units. The report argues that there is therefore no need for the Safdie plan, because there is a reserve of 58,000 housing units.
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Why bbuild to the West when you can extend the squats to the East????
So there is no alternative. Evacuate Pisgat Ze'ev, and the rest.
Last night SPNI's architects and urban planners proved -beyond the shadow of a doubt- that the Safdie Plan is completely unneeded. They invested years in researching Jerusalem's needs and potential building sites and locating more building sites within the built perimeter of the city than the Safdie Plan ever intended for the pristine, untouched JNF forests in the Jerusalem Hills. We planted those trees, Jews around the world - let us stand up for them now - in unison. Please support the SPNI-led struggle to defend the Jerusalem Hills, through the coalition they head, the Coalition for the Preservation of the Jerusalem Hills. Learn more about this at http://www.aspni.org
How need this nature anyway. Is even has a smell. NO let us live in big houses surrounded by more big houses. Scenery and nice view and green areas around Jerusalem is unessesary! Destroy, destroy, destroy it all. You want trees buy them in the nearest Moshav, flowers you can get anywhere along the roads on thursdays and fridays. And smell of nature comes in cans! By a picture if you want a nice view fro your house! Is this how we want to live, and teach our children?????Lets keep in mind th next generation also, and let them experiance true nature and green areas!!!!
It is a big mistake to build here, especially when it is entirely unnecessary. Not only does it eliminate the only accessible green area in the center of the country, but it also impoverishes Jerusalem proper - leading to an Arab majority, and a poor Jewish minority. This is the best thing you can do if you want to give away Jerusalem and the beautiful forests around it.
well done olmert , Back off leftist whiners , loosers , you guys don't even live there , stay at rabin square Whoosies , booo , booo , go live in gaza go ahead safdie build life