sustainable Jerusalem

Ein Karem and its surrounding landscape constitute a unique site. High hills surround this picturesque village. Ancient agricultural terraces, olive trees and almond orchards form an enchanted nature reserve, well within walking distance of modern Jerusalem. Despite its proximity to the modern city, this area has retained its age-old rustic character, a remnant of pristine countryside.

For many visitors from abroad, as well as for Israelis, this is the landscape of the Bible - an ancient agricultural vignette. For Christians, Ein Karem is considered to be John the Baptist's birthplace, a site holy to Christianity and one of the most important on the pilgrim's itinerary in Israel. Each year hundreds of thousands of Christian pilgrims visit the convents and churches of Ein Karem, making it an internationally important tourist destination. The dramatic landscape all around contributes to their admiration of the place.

The area's importance is enhanced by the fact that this is the landscape seen by visitors to Mount Herzl and Yad Vashem, national institutions overflowing with visitors. This location lends special significance to the need to preserve the entire panoramic basin surrounding Ein Karem as an undisturbed unity.

This, in fact, is precisely what the inhabitants of Ein Karem are determined to do. Construction and development of all sorts should be kept to a minimum: only modest facilities for pilgrims, rustic tourism and recreation. Tour buses should have special parking lots outside the ancient village. The inhabitants also want any discussion of individual development projects to be within the context of overall regional planning. They have formulated this viewpoint (together with the residents of Kiryat Menachem and the Guardians of the Forest) in the "Ein Karem Basin and National Park" plan (outline plan no. 6729), which they presented to the appropriate authorities in the autumn of 1998.

Defining the visual basin of Ein Karem and the national park as an
undisturbed unity, and declaring it a landscape and historic
conservation area.

Stopping the encroachment upon open spaces and channeling
development pressures into directions which will not harm the
landscape.

Preventing new construction, especially in the green belt separating
the ancient village from the modern city.

Developing promenades, conserving panoramas
and lookout points, and preventing construction which obstructs them.

Conserving the alleys and the fabric of construction of the historic
village.

Declaring the olive groves surrounding the village a national park
(something the Parks and Nature Reserves Authority has been
thinking of doing for years).

Declaring the rest of the wadis and slopes surrounding the village
"landscape reserves". Improving walking paths, rehabilitating
agricultural terraces and natural vegetation.

Arranging for inter-urban transportation and bus parking outside the
historic village. Locating the parking lots at the Kerem junction, on
Mount Herzl and near the Karmit boarding school.

Transporting visitors and tourists by minibus shuttles from the parking
lots to and from the village center.

Restricting the use of private vehicles in the village center and turning
Ha-Ma'ayan St. into a pedestrian precinct.

Limited development, exclusively for purposes of rustic tourism and
recreation, in designated areas only.

Developing residential areas solely in places where construction will
not obstruct the view and cannot be seen from the lookout points, i.e.
on the slopes of the wadi overlooking the Karmit boarding school.

The outline plan initiated by the residents is a pragmatic alternative to the development plans of the Israel Lands Authority. The Authority seeks to construct dense housing and high-rises on the slopes surrounding the village, in the heart of the sensitive landscape and even adjacent to convent walls, as well as to build many new villas in the village itself. This would destroy the delicate fabric of the historic village. The Authority even intends to build on areas designated to become national parkland, landscape reserves, and parts of the Jerusalem Forest - all of which are protected by the National Outline Plan (TAMA 22). All this would be done in disregard of the comprehensive development plans crystallizing in the region. The inevitable significance of such plans is mortal damage to the historic village and destruction of the unique landscape surrounding it.

On the other hand, the plan initiated by the residents ("Ein Karen Basin and National Park" outline plan no. 6729) blends into the larger picture of the Jerusalem metropolis and the Judean Hills. The residents are mindful of existing plans and of those evolving for the area's future. These include: the theoretical "West Jerusalem" plan (Moshe Safdi, architect, 1997); the master plan for open spaces (Shlomo Eshkol and Avi Rekhess, architects, 1994); the Metropolitan Jerusalem master plan and development plan (Adam Mazor, 1994); and the proposed Jerusalem 1975 outline plan (Yosef Schweid, 1975).

In summary : Jerusalem is fortunate in having this outstandingly beautiful landscape treasure. Looking to the city's long-term development, it is vital to stop the continuing encroachment upon areas of landscape and historic significance. Conserving the special landscape of the entire Ein Karem basin would be a manifestation of the nation's respect for its history and its land, an expression of culture and values.