Protesters Block Jerusalem Light Rail Again, Disrupting Service Amid Ongoing Opposition

On Wednesday night, protesters opposing the Jerusalem light rail construction blocked the rail line near Bar Lev Boulevard, disrupting service for about an hour. The demonstration later continued on Bar Ilan Street, another key site of ongoing protests. Jerusalem district police and Border Police forces arrived at the scene, declared a public disturbance, and ordered the protesters to disperse. When they refused, security forces cleared the area and reopened the route.

The light rail operator announced a suspension of service between Yakutiel Adam station and the Central Station, resuming partial operations after about 30 minutes between Hadassah Ein Kerem and Givat Mivtar stations in both directions. These nightly protests add to a series of clashes, blockades, and vandalism targeting the light rail works along Bar Ilan Street.

The economic impact of the protests is severe, with estimated damages and losses to the Green Line project reaching approximately 400 million shekels. The project timeline has been altered, splitting the line into sections: areas without protests are expected to open later this year, while the Bar Ilan segment is delayed by at least a year, now projected to finish by the end of 2027. Despite the heavy financial and scheduling setbacks, the nightly demonstrations continue to disrupt the light rail’s progress in Jerusalem.