Environmentalists were defeated today on the final route of Israel Railways the fast rail link between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. The sub-committee on basic planning matters recommended to the Israel National Council for Planning and Construction that a bridge be built over the Yitleh stream, rather than a tunnel beneath it.
Green organizations demanded to change the route by the Yitleh stream near Latrun because a bridge would mar a nature reserve. The committee led by Prof. Ezra Sedan to examine the matter recommended construction of a bridge because a tunnel would delay the project by years.
Israel Railways, which favors the bridge, said that a final decision would be made in August.
A spokesperson for the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel said, "This is a dreadful decision and anti-environmentalist based on the misassumption that the project is in danger of being cancelled if alternatives are adopted."
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on June 23, 2009
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