Modi'in Illit Residents Protest New School Building Serving Outsiders, Citing Traffic and Safety Concerns

Residents of the Gan Hadassim neighborhood in Modi'in Illit are protesting the municipality's plan to allocate a newly constructed educational building in the heart of their community to students from outside the area. Meanwhile, local girls continue to attend distant schools, requiring daily bus commutes. The neighborhood, home to between 1,200 and 2,000 families, faces growing population pressure, yet the new facility, designed for about 1,000 students, is not intended for local children.

Residents warn that the plan will significantly increase traffic congestion and compromise safety. Hundreds of vehicles, including buses and shuttles, are expected to enter the neighborhood each morning, while local girls must cross busy roads to reach schools elsewhere. Rachel D., a mother of three, described the daily commute as a "nerve-wracking nightmare," expressing deep concern for her daughters' safety.

Yossi K., a neighborhood resident and member of the action committee, highlighted the existing traffic strain, noting narrow streets, full parking, and morning gridlocks. He criticized the decision as disconnected from local realities and emphasized that a school built in the neighborhood should primarily serve its own children to avoid deliberate traffic chaos.

In response, dozens of residents have signed a protest letter demanding the municipality and planning authorities reassign the building to serve neighborhood children. The Modi'in Illit municipality has yet to issue an official response to the controversy.