Israeli court approves highway bisecting Arab neighborhood in Jerusalem - Israel News | Haaretz Daily Newspaper
▻http://www.haaretz.com/news/israeli-court-approves-highway-bisecting-arab-neighborhood-in-jerusalem.pre
Jerusalem District Court Judge Nava Ben-Or has rejected a petition by residents of southern Jerusalem against a highway that will split their pastoral Arab neighborhood in two.
The road, a continuation of Begin Highway, will bisect Jerusalem’s Beit Safafa neighborhood, under plans approved 23 years ago. In Jewish areas of the city, the road runs adjacent to the neighborhoods rather than through them.
About two months ago, residents filed an administrative petition against the municipality on the grounds that the building permits for the road were issued illegally. Representing residents is attorney Kais Nasser of Yedid, The Association for Community Empowerment.
According to the petition, the plans for the road, approved in 1999, do not include detailed planning and residents were not given the opportunity to object or receive compensation.
The judge ruled that the permits were issued properly and that the residents should have raised their objections 23 years ago.