Israeli Supreme Court Declines to Intervene in Metro Route Disputes in Sharon Region
The Israeli Supreme Court has consolidated petitions from the municipalities of Hod Hasharon, Kfar Saba, and South Sharon Council opposing the planned metro route and clarified it does not intend to intervene, urging the parties to resolve the matter themselves. The petitions, filed since June last year, challenge the metro line’s path and station locations, particularly criticizing that the current plan does not serve Hod Hasharon effectively and calls for rerouting to busier areas and industrial zones away from residential neighborhoods.
The justices, Dov Mintz, Khaled Kabub, and Yael Wilner, also addressed concerns about the location of the metro depot raised by Kfar Saba and South Sharon. They decided to unify the petitions but made clear they will not rule on the substantive planning issues, instead encouraging local authorities to negotiate with relevant stakeholders. A formal ruling is expected soon, but the court’s stance was firm on non-intervention.
During the hearing, Hod Hasharon Mayor Amir Kochavi emphasized that the city is the only one along the metro route lacking the three core planning principles: serving dense residential areas, employment zones, and connectivity with other mass transit. He warned that the current plan would hinder the city’s growth from 70,000 to 150,000 residents and increase dependence on the state. Kochavi noted that despite eight years of efforts to gain political and professional support, progress stalled after the regional committee accepted their position.
Attorney Erez Kaminitz, representing Hod Hasharon, argued that the chosen route bypasses about one million square meters of employment space and approximately 9,000 planned housing units, all to save three minutes of travel time. After the court expressed its reluctance to delve into these issues, Kochavi pledged that regardless of the court’s decision, Hod Hasharon will continue working with professional teams and political levels to improve the metro route.
Summary: The Israeli Supreme Court has refused to intervene in petitions by Sharon region municipalities against the metro route and station locations, urging local authorities to resolve the disputes themselves. Hod Hasharon officials criticized the current plan for inadequate service and vowed to continue efforts to modify the route despite the court’s stance.
