The Jerusalem City Planning Board on Wednesday rejected a Muslim Waqf plan calling for the construction of an Arab-sector shopping center in the Har HaZeisim area of the eastern capital.
The plan, which was submitted first about a decade ago, calls for a four-story structure situated about 400 meters north of the Intercontinental Hotel.
Planning board head Yehoshua Pollack explained there was widespread opposition, pointing out the location is narrow and already suffers from chronic traffic congestion. In addition, the resident of the new Jewish neighborhood of Maale Zeitim stated the four-story structure would destroy the view of the area. Environmentalists also rejected destroying park area to accommodate the structure.
(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)
