A fifth international firm has declined involvement in a proposed cable car system spanning 1.4 kilometers between West and East Jerusalem, marking another setback for the contentious infrastructure initiative. The South Tyrolean engineering consultancy ROPES cited an existing commitment in India for its decision to reject the work, according to statements to media outlets. The Jerusalem Development Authority had recently moved to award a contract to the company without conducting a competitive public tender process.
The cable car project has faced significant opposition from multiple quarters since its governmental approval in 2019 and subsequent court affirmation in 2022. Rights organizations and Palestinian residents have raised concerns about the route’s impact on communities in the Silwan neighborhood, particularly the Wadi Hilweh area, where approximately 54 Palestinian residences face potential land or airspace expropriation to accommodate cable car support infrastructure. Authorities have already issued 17 expropriation notices affecting roughly 8.7 dunams of land. Residents face the prospect of cable cars passing as close as four meters above homes, raising privacy and development concerns.
The planned route terminates at a substantial 16,000 square-meter tourist complex promoted by Elad, a settlement-focused organization. International legal bodies have determined that Israel’s presence in occupied territories remains unlawful, though Israeli authorities maintain the project adheres to applicable procedures. At least four other foreign companies—three French and one Swiss—have previously withdrawn, with some citing political sensitivity and international pressure. The French government discouraged participation by one firm in 2015.
Archaeological and heritage advocates have raised objections regarding impacts on the Old City’s historic character, noting that the project contradicts longstanding preservation principles. Environmental and planning rights organizations have similarly expressed concerns. The initiative reflects broader settlement expansion patterns across East Jerusalem, where Palestinian property seizures and residential demolitions have accelerated. Rights groups characterize the project as integral to consolidating Israeli control over Palestinian areas designated in peace negotiations as part of potential future Palestinian territories.
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