Saving Mitzpetel – Armon Hanatziv Ridge

Entering the decisive stage in the fight to save Mitzpetel – appealing to the Israel Supreme Court to save a unique scenic and natural gem.  Mitzpetel - a unique, breathtaking observation point and an extraordinary urban nature site, is infamous for its natural flora in the spring and its unique vista year-round. January – April, it is covered with purple carpets of lupins and attracts thousands of visitors. Locals and tourists flock to this spot at all times where they can picnic overlooking a 360 degree vista of the Old City of Jerusalem, the Judean Desert, the Dead Sea. Indeed, this view exists nowhere else in the world.   Hundreds of species of flowers also grow there, including marigolds and crocuses, and many species of butterflies come there to mate and ensure their future existence.  So what’s the problem?   This magical Jerusalem gem, located at the eastern end of Armon Hanatziv Ridge, is in immediate danger of destruction! The reason - a short-sighted construction plan that overlooks and disregards the scenic uniqueness and stunning natural values of Mitzpetel. Indeed, the Israel Police submitted a plan to build a huge security complex, precisely at this point, on the scale of a regional HQ. If this plan goes ahead, it will destroy the natural site, block the view, and rob the residents and visitors of one of the few green lungs still left in the city in its natural state.  Who we are? Activists, lovers of Jerusalem, who fight to preserve Mitzpetel!  The residents of the neighborhood and many citizens, with the support of the Society for the Protection of Nature, the Green Jerusalem Fund, and environmental and sustainability organizations submitted many objections during the planning process. About 700 people signed objections to the district committee, and over 3300 signed a petition to save the Mitzpetel site. We protested in front of the offices of the district committee, enlisted experts to propose excellent site alternatives. However, these were rejected without even a thorough examination. We hired the services of an expert lawyer, attorney Gilad Barnea, who represented us before the local and district committees for objections, as well as in an administrative appeal, and we prepared for a petition in the district court. Last summer, it seemed that we had succeeded. The Israel Police announced that in view of the objections, it will examine other alternatives (there are at least 5 possible alternatives). At this point it seemed the lovers of Jerusalem and natural beauty had won. The joy of the residents and visitors knew no bounds.  Of course, many entities, including the municipality were quick to claim credit but we didn’t mind.  Then, we realized this was all a ruse. The day following the 2024 municipal elections, we received a message that the police had found no other suitable site (never specifying where and when these sites were examined. It became clear that the misuse of power knew no bounds. The police threatened that should the activists and residents continue the legal case; it could endanger the safety of the residents as they would pull out of the neighborhood entirely. Clearly, this threat bears no weight as the police have no mandate to stop providing security to the residents.   We decided to continue our appeal to the district court.  The trial took place on April 30, 2024. Unfortunately, the district court rejected the petition, ruling that: [1] Mitzpetel "it is not an exceptional unique area", [2] accepted the police's claims that there would be minimal damage to the quality of life of the residents, [3] that the scenic and natural qualities of the site would not be damaged  [4] the petitioners were to pay  28,000 NIS in legal costs payable to the Israel Police and the Jerusalem Municipality. It is clear to anyone actually visited Mitzpetel  and reviewed the proposed plan, that these are all factual errors. Overlooking the landscape, at sunrise and sunset, or on full moon nights, will understand that the view will be completely blocked and will be replaced by a security structure, antennas and projectors and that the extensive construction will completely uproot and destroy the flora and fauna. So what will happen? According to the assessment of the lawyer who represents us, Adv. Gilad Barnea, the sound legal arguments that we presented as well as the fundamental faults in the district court verdict will help the Supreme Court overturn the decision. We represent you, thousands of Israelis and tourists who love Mitzpetel and are not willing to give it up. So we appealing to the Supreme Court despite the pressure and abuse of power that the police, the municipality, and the planning department exert on us. What can we do? Good citizens, lovers of Jerusalem and nature, can help with donations that will help finance the legal expenses and the public struggle we face.  So far we have raised close to 120,000 NIS in this campaign and now we must set a new goal of raising an additional 100,000 NIS, to finance the legal and public struggle of the appeal.  Whether you have already donated in the past, and certainly if you have not, we appeal to you to help the fight, every donation, big or small, makes an impact. We have breathtaking nature just a touch away from home, let's preserve it - if each and every one of us participates and contributes as much as we can, together we will succeed and save Mitzpetel - the Armon Hanatziv Ridge!  For detailed information: visit www.mitzpetel.com and follow our Facebook page @savemitzpetel. Or contact savemitzpetel@gmail.com, or by phone Ilana 0544643843