Jerusalem Halts Major Development Plan Over Beitar Training Fields

The Jerusalem Municipality has halted a massive development plan slated for the Beitar Jerusalem football club's training grounds in Beit Vagan. The Israel Land Authority (ILA) had been advancing the "Emek Zion" plan, which encompasses 194 dunams and includes provisions for 1,650 apartments in four 50-story towers and one 40-story tower. The plan also allocated space for employment and commercial areas, and crucially, would expand the Shaare Zedek hospital and the Shalva center for people with disabilities. Currently, three football fields used by all Beitar Jerusalem youth divisions occupy about 30 dunams of the site.

The ILA's proposal would reduce the number of fields to two, located half a kilometer apart, with one to be built on the roof of a commercial center and deemed unsuitable for matches. Jerusalem's municipality argues that a football club of Beitar's size cannot function effectively with such a split, citing disruptions to coaching, duplicated equipment needs, separate gym facilities, and the inability for joint team activities. The municipality officially opposed the plan after a meeting last Thursday where the ILA presented its solution for the fields. Consequently, a scheduled discussion by the Jerusalem District Planning and Building Committee on the plan's deposit for final approval was canceled at the municipality's request.

The municipality is demanding that at least two fields remain connected to accommodate the club's needs, including a gym and locker rooms. The ILA is now seeking alternative solutions in Jerusalem, acknowledging the difficulty of finding a large enough suitable area due to the city's hilly terrain. One proposed solution involves extending the cover of Highway 16 to create space for a field, while another option involves identifying suitable land elsewhere. The "Emek Zion" plan is considered vital for Jerusalem's development, connecting neighborhoods, proximity to light rail lines, and facilitating the expansion of Shaare Zedek hospital, funded by a $200 million donation from WhatsApp founder Jan Koum, and the Shalva center.

Mayor Moshe Lion stated that while Jerusalem's development is important, it will not come at the expense of the training complex used by the city's youth and potentially harming Beitar Jerusalem. He urged the ILA to present a viable alternative that ensures the club's continued operation. The ILA responded that the "Emek Zion" plan is a joint initiative with the municipality, offering urban development alongside meeting city-wide needs, and confirmed collaboration in finding alternative sites for Beitar's fields. The training grounds have a history of legal and business disputes related to potential residential development, with past sales and attempted acquisitions by figures like Arkady Gaydamak and Hadas Capital.