Politics
Fifth foreign firm withdraws from Israeli cable car project to East Jerusalem
October 21, 2026 at 01:58 PM
Coverage
2 reports · 1 in Arabic, 1 in English · over 8 hours
An Italian engineering firm has become the fifth foreign company to pull out of the planned cable car linking West and East Jerusalem.
- ROPES, a South Tyrol-based consultancy, has withdrawn from the Jerusalem Development Authority project after plans stalled for four years before resuming in late September.
- ROPES chief executive Stephan Obexer told the Guardian the company declined the work because of another commitment in India.
- Israeli authorities have issued 17 expropriation notices covering about 8.7 dunams along the route, which rights groups say directly threatens 54 Palestinian homes in Silwan.
- A Jerusalem Development Authority spokesperson told Haaretz the cable car proceeds on schedule, with a tender expected in the coming months.