On September 10th, 2014, the appeals committee of the National Planning and Building Council put the plan for a national park on the slopes of Mount Scopus on hold until the needs of the two adjacent East Jerusalem neighborhoods, al-Isawiyyah and at-Tur are assessed.

The committee returned the plan to the Jerusalem District Planning Committee following an appeal of the plan, submitted by local residents and Bimkom – Planners for Planning Rights who objected to the plan based on the fact that it would cut off all future growth of al-Isawiyyah and at-Tur. Bimkom has long maintained that national parks in East Jerusalem serve the authorities as a planning means to restrict development and natural growth in Palestinian neighborhoods in East Jerusalem. In 2012, we published a report on the subject entitled, From National to Public: National Parks in East Jerusalem.

The plan for the national park, referred to as the Mt. Scopus Slopes National Park, was approved by the Jerusalem District Planning Committee in early 2013, making only a symbolic change to the plan as a result of the many objections filed. In response appeals were filed, among them an appeal by Bimkom together with the residents of al-Isawiyyah, arguing that the National Park Plan would eliminate the last remaining land reserves for the neighborhoods’ development
(see English translation of the appeal).

In its decision, the National Planning Council stated: “With regard to the boundaries of the national park, the needs of the adjacent neighborhoods have not been sufficiently presented to us, including a clear examination of existing land reserves. This kind of examination is a necessary precondition prior to any decision regarding the boundaries of the park and it must be made on the basis of all the relevant considerations.”This historical step offers a glimmer of hope for the improvement of the situation in al-Isawiyyah and at-Tur.The next milestone will be to convince the District Committee to provide these neighborhoods with what they really need — sufficient land for expansion.Bimkom will continue to work closely with residents on this issue.