If Jerusalem’s soon-to-open high-speed rail line was extended to the Western Wall, what would the station be called? Why not name it after US President Donald Trump?
That’s the proposal Israel’s transport minister recently pushed forward, according to an Associated Press report.
Yisrael Katz told Israeli rail executives that he wanted to honour Trump “for his brave and historic decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital”.
Under construction for years, the high-speed rail line is set to open between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem this spring.
Katz’s proposal is an extension to the line. It would involve constructing two underground stations and excavating more than three kilometres of tunnel beneath Jerusalem, including under the Old City, according to AP.
The minister said the new station would take visitors to “the beating heart of the Jewish people: the Western Wall and the Temple Mount”.
A transport ministry spokesman told AP that the project would take four years to complete and was estimated to cost $700m.
Katz’s proposal is likely to face opposition as the international community does not recognise Israeli sovereignty over East Jerusalem and the Old City which Israel captured in 1967 and then annexed. Palestinians want East Jerusalem to be the capital of a future Palestinian state.
The ministry spokesman told AP that despite expected opposition, the project is expected to be approved next year.
“There’s no reason why this train won’t be built,” he said. “We already know how to deal with no less difficult opposition.”
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