Jerusalem 5800 English

The Metropolitan Jerusalem Master Plan

The Jerusalem

region is rich with

a historical legacy

from many periods,

and some of these

historical events

bear importance for

the entire world.

The armored trucks of

Sha’ar HaGai are an

example of a cultural

and legacy site, the

development of which

could serve as part of

an Israeli landscape

continuum.

over a continuum of historical periods,

or in the context of historical events –

universal, national, or local. Today most

national and regional outline plans do not

include designated attention to places that

present a meeting point between man and

landscape, nor implementable tools for

their preservation.

In a report on cultural landscapes

ordered by the Nature and Parks Authority,

six cultural landscape complexes within

the Jerusalem region were defined as

having universal importance, and have

been included in the tourism layout of

this plan: the Adullam Caves, the site of

David & Goliath’s battle in the Ella Valley,

the agricultural terraces of the Judean

Mountains, the monasteries and historical

hills of the Judean plains, and Sha’ar

HaGai.

We must strive to realize the vision,

for these six regions at the minimum,

which will make the Jerusalem region

an attraction that incorporates the

magnificence of Israel’s natural wonders

and the historical legacy anchored therein.□

The Layout of Open Areas

Parks Outside the City

There are many diverse archeological, historical, and cultural sites in the

metropolitan Jerusalem region. A comprehensive, systematic plan will

incorporate them into an inclusive infrastructure of culture and tourism for

the experience of visiting the metropolis.

Metropolitan Jerusalem will be the center

of parks and places of recreation in Israel.

Its location in close proximity to Tel Aviv

makes it, even today, a destination in high

demand for Israelis countrywide. The

Jerusalem 5800 Plan defines each town

in the metropolitan Jerusalem region as a

“gateway” to the areas of activity within

its borders. At parks, historical content will

be available, and springs, terraces, ancient

agriculture, and archeological points of

interest will be restored. Of course, the

residents of metropolitan Jerusalem will

also be able to enjoy the improved parks in

the metropolis.

In order to improve the quality of the

forests in the metropolitan region, we must

strive to increase the number of species of

flora and ensure that they include edible

plants. We must also act to improve the

order of the ecosystem and to increase

the number of animals in the forests and

their quality of life by establishing feeding

points and places for birdwatching and

spotting mammals, rodents and reptiles.

Roads leading to Jerusalem will run

through the parks based on ancient routes.

Points of interest and places to stay will

be located along these roads, with visitors’

centers for information, places to eat, and

archeological, ecological, and biological

points of interest. Parks will include

circular routes which will run through

points of interest and places to stay suited

to those touring on foot, cyclers, and those

on horseback.

Cultural Landscapes

Cultural landscapes are those which

incorporate both the natural and the

man-made, or those which are a source of

inspiration or memory for man. The UN

has given clear guidelines for the meeting

point between natural legacy and human

activity, and for the preservation of a

sustainable balance between nature and

man, and the Jerusalem 5800 Plan strives

to uphold these criteria. The Jerusalem

region is rich with a historical legacy from

many periods. Some of these historical

events are important to the Jewish people,

and some of these historical events bear

importance for the entire world, as part

of the history of the Western world, for

which the Land of Israel was an important

focal point during many times throughout

history. Thus there is a high potential

for the creation of cultural landscapes in

metropolitan Jerusalem.

An Israeli cultural landscape will

be considered as such if it reflects the

meeting between man and nature over

time in a defined geographical region,

The Layout of Open Areas