12 September 2017
In a measure intended at further imposing its control on Al Quds and Masjid al Aqsa, the Israeli transportation minister has announced that he intends to extend the Tel Aviv-Jerusalem train to reach Masjid al Aqsa itself.
The Minister, Yisrael Katz, made the comments at a pre-Rosh Hashana toast in Or Yehuda on Monday.
“The high-speed train line between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem will continue from Jerusalem’s Central Bus Station to the Western Wall and Temple Mount[al-Aqsa] via underground tunnels” he said.
According to Arutz Sheva, this is not the first time that Katz has talked about his plans to extend the Israel Railways train line to the old city. In the most recent Jerusalem Conference hosted by Arutz Sheva’s sister publication Basheva, he said that “in the future we will extend the route to the area of the old city, near the Western Wall, where another underground railway station will be built.”
“By next Passover, with God’s help, we will fulfill Isaiah’s vision and embark on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem on the new train.”
During a tour of al Quds last month, Israeli Internal Security Minister Gilad Erdan asserted that Israeli sovereignty begins in Eastern Jerusalem.
“Jewish settlement in eastern Jerusalem is taking place in the heart of biblical Jerusalem, overlooking the Temple Mount, the holiest place to the Jewish people,” said Erdan at the end of the tour.
“I get excited each time I see Jewish families who understand what we all need to understand – that our sovereignty in the State of Israel and the Land of Israel begins here.”
In another related plan to further encircle Masjid al Aqsa, a cable car is being planned that would go from Jerusalem’s Central Bus Station right to the outskirts of the Masjid.
Route for the train
An article on JewishPress.com, states that the Tel-Aviv-Jerusalem rail line is intended at getting Jewish Israelis and foreigners to the ‘Western[Buraq] Wall’ in record time. However, the piece also suggests, in a matter of fact manner: “once the Third Temple is rebuilt, it will allows Jews around the country to easily and quickly travel to the Jewish people’s holiest site for the holidays.”
According to the publication, the project has been in the works since 2001. Projected to cost an estimated 7 billion shekels ($1.8 billion), it’s expected to reduce travel time on the train line between the two cities from 78 to 28 minutes.
The train is expected to be ready for passenger travel by 2018.
