Sue Surkes is The Times of Israel s environment reporter.
An appeals committee approves plans to build some 5,000 residential units at Reches Lavan, a popular site of agricultural terraces and springs just west of Jerusalem.
Reches Lavan (White Ridge) named for its light, chalky rock is located near the Jerusalem Zoo and the southwest neighborhoods of Kiryat Hayovel, Givat Masua and Ein Kerem, and Moshav Ora just outside the city.
Home to Mediterranean vegetation and large mammals such as mountain gazelle and hyena, the whole area, with its natural springs and spring-fed pools, serves as a green backyard for Jerusalemites.
Activists are now pledging to take their case to the courts. They fear that the planners will start with construction on Reches Lavan before moving on to build on other hills Mount Harat, Mitzpe Naftoah in Ramot, the slopes of Moshav Ora and a spur near Hadassah Hospital, Ein Kerem, one ridge at a time.
Sue Surkes is The Times of Israel s environment reporter.
Young people enjoy a hot summer s day at the Ein Lavan Spring in the Jerusalem hills, August 30, 2020. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
An appeals committee on Thursday approved plans to build some 5,000 residential units at Reches Lavan, a popular, pastoral site of agricultural terraces and springs just west of Jerusalem.
Reches Lavan (White Ridge) named for its light, chalky rock is located near the Jerusalem Zoo and the southwest neighborhoods of Kiryat Hayovel, Givat Masua and Ein Kerem, and Moshav Ora just outside the city.
Home to Mediterranean vegetation and large mammals such as mountain gazelles and hyenas, the whole area, with its natural springs and spring-fed pools, serves as a green backyard for Jerusalemites and a popular weekend meeting place for young people.