Jerusalem Building: The National Planning and Building Appeals Committee determined this week that the office building and museum planned to be built in the Western Wall Plaza will be reduced in size.
This is a plan to construct a building known as the 'Core House', which is to be built in the upper plaza area of the Western Wall. The building is planned to house offices, a museum about the Old City and the Wall, and more.
However, the plan sparked a lot of opposition, from various sources, including planners, residents of the Jewish Quarter, and archaeologists. The main argument was that the building would reduce the Western Wall plaza by about 20 meters.
In addition, opponents claimed that the building would damage the remains of an ancient Roman street that was excavated underneath it and would even cause serious safety problems for visitors to the Western Wall. The Palestinians also opposed the plan, claiming that the building violates the status quo in the Temple Mount area.
As mentioned, this week the appeals committee published its decision, according to which the plan will be reduced and the uses of the building will be redefined. The appeals committee returned the plan to the District Planning and Building Committee, for re-approval of the plan.
In its decision, the committee writes: "Given the sensitivity and importance of the Western Wall Plaza area, we believe that the discussion of the plan should be returned to the District Committee," in light of the fact that "a building has a significant presence in the Western Wall Plaza, facing the Western Wall and dozens of meters away from it, while changing the appearance of the plaza.".
The committee recommends that the space that has been cleared be dedicated to shading and seating solutions for the benefit of the visitor audience. The committee also determined that the primary uses of the building will be educational and public, and that operational uses, such as offices and restrooms, should be minimized.
In response to the decision, attorney Gilad Barnea, who represented Old City man Ephraim Holtzberg, said: "The decision makes it clear that the Western Wall and the Western Wall Plaza are not a private playground, but a world heritage property.".
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