A fifth foreign firm has exited a contentious cable car project in Jerusalem, which is set to connect West and East Jerusalem. Rights groups argue that the 1.4km route threatens to displace Palestinian families and alter the cultural landscape, as it ends at a site linked to a far-right settler organization. Despite these withdrawals, local authorities maintain that the project will proceed as planned, having recently issued a notice to award a contract without a public tender.
The cable car plan, approved by the Israeli government in 2019, has faced criticism for its potential impact on Palestinian communities. Protests have emerged from various groups, highlighting concerns over land expropriation and the implications for local heritage. The project is seen as part of broader tensions surrounding land rights and settlement expansion in the region, particularly amid rising settler violence and ongoing conflicts in the area.