Jerusalem District Court Justice Nava Ben-Ohr has turned down an appeal seeking to halt plans for a road that runs through the Jerusalem Arab neighborhood of Beit Safafa. The planned roadway extension will improve the city’s Begin Highway but neighborhood residents insist it cuts their community in half.

Attorneys representing the community filed the appeal, challenging the plans that were approved over two decades ago, claiming the approval was issued illegally. They feel the plan can be modified to run around the neighborhood and it does not necessarily have to cut through it. The court rejected the argument, backing the legality of a 1999 decision, telling the petitioners the appeal should have been filed back when the approval was announced.

Jerusalem City Hall expressed delight with the court’s ruling since the plans have been sealed for some time, adding violent protests to block the work will not be tolerated.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)