Italian firm withdraws from contentious Jerusalem cable car project, 5th company to do so

A fifth foreign firm, Italian engineering consultancy ROPES, has withdrawn from the controversial Jerusalem cable car project. The Jerusalem Development Authority had issued a notice of intent to award a contract without a public tender, but the company's CEO said it would not take the job due to another commitment. The NIS 200 million project has faced years of opposition from rights groups and heritage professionals.

A fifth foreign firm, Italian cable car engineering consultancy ROPES, has withdrawn from the controversial Jerusalem cable car project, The Guardian reported Wednesday. The Jerusalem Development Authority had issued a notice of intent to award a contract without a public tender to ROPES, but CEO Stephan Obexer told The Guardian the company would not take the job due to another commitment in India. According to Haaretz, citing La Repubblica, the company's owner regretted accepting the offer. The NIS 200 million ($64 million) project, approved in 2019, would run 1.4 kilometers from West Jerusalem's First Station to the Old City's Dung Gate. Proponents, including the Tourism Ministry and Jerusalem Municipality, argue it is the least disruptive way to transport up to 3,000 visitors per hour to the Western Wall. Opponents, including rights organizations, archaeologists, and the Israel Association of Architects, say the plan is obtrusive, culturally irresponsible, and would harm the Palestinian village of Silwan. The High Court rejected petitions in 2022, but no progress has been made. Emek Shaveh recently warned the project threatens Palestinian communities and aims to reroute tourism through settler-controlled areas.