Jerusalem24 – Sunday, the Israeli Supreme Court postponed the issuance of its final decision regarding the cable car project, which the occupation government intends to establish over the lands of Silwan, specifically in the Wadi Hilweh neighborhood south of Al-Aqsa Mosque, all the way to the Dung Gate in the Old City of occupied Jerusalem.
The Public Prosecution demanded the Occupation Court to submit an additional pleading within 21 days, and then to present an explicit position from the Israeli Ministry of Transportation regarding the project. Irsheed explained that after submitting the pleading, they have the right to respond to the situation, and then the court will take its decision either by issuing the final ruling, or by holding another session in this case.
The Wadi Hilweh Information Center quoted lawyer Sami Irsheed as saying: “After a lengthy hearing for the parties, and for the petition that we submitted on behalf of the people of Silwan and the merchants of the Old City regarding the cable car project, the judges of the Supreme Court decided that the allegations were insufficient to issue a final decision on the project.” adding that the court judges also listened to the occupation municipality, the ministries of transportation and tourism, and other ministries of the Israeli occupation.
It’s noteworthy that The cable car, for which the government has already budgeted NIS 200 million ($55.2 million), is planned to stretch from the First Station cultural complex in the south of the city to the Old City’s Dung Gate, which is the closest entrance to the Western Wall, Mount Zion will host the only station along the way. The cable car project, intended to be ready for 2021, yet must still win final government approval.
In this episode of Wake Up Palestine, we speak with Dr. Hanna Al-Sweid on the issues of the Jerusalem Municipalities’ Cable Car project and how it affects the people of Silwan.
