מתנגדים למגדלים מעל עין כרם

Petition – Opposing the Towers above Ein Kerem

To the Jerusalem District Planning and Building Committee

We the undersigned, lovers of Jerusalem, seek to protest the construction of massive office & industry towers above Ein Kerem, on the ridge of Mount Ora (Visitation Mount), one of the highest mountains of Jerusalem.

Ein Kerem is the last authentic ancient village still well preserved in the country. We strongly oppose the undermining of its natural landscape and cultural heritage and the oppressing effect of the potential towers on its pilgrimage sites. These sites are visited by more than 2 million tourists, pilgrims and travelers annually.

The planned hi-tech compound will have a devastating effect on the landscape of Ein Kerem and the entire surrounding valleys – a landscape in rare harmony with nature. It will introduce an intensive industrial urban compound that will take over the once traditional terraced landscape, rich in ancient trees, springs and valuable archaeological remains from Biblical Times.

Ein Kerem and its cultural landscape is in the process of being recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site - the construction of the Towers will sabotage this process. Ein Kerem and the surrounding terraced mountains also serve as Jerusalem's largest and finest green lungs, improving the quality of life for Jerusalem inhabitants.

These terrifying towers are proposed for offices, retail and light industry. The height of the western tower will be over 90 meters tall, close to the highest tower in Jerusalem at present. These towers are especially large: 1,250 sqm per floor (twice as much as most Jerusalem high-rise towers today)!  This means 1,120 % building surface on the plot! To date there is no construction with that density in Jerusalem.

This grandiose plan is not compatible with the character of the area, topography, sustainability and existing infrastructure. It will create severe transport chaos at the Ora intersection and to the road leading to Hadassah Hospital.

We request that this plan be examined in more depth and that a suitable alternative location for the industrial Towers (whose necessity is yet to be proved) be proposed in order not to destroy a unique place that preserves the ancient landscape of our country. It is our duty to preserve this unique, beautiful, authentic biblical landscape for future generations.

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