Following Dubai’s Footsteps: Plan to Build an Israeli “Burj Khalifa” in Jerusalem

The newspaper Haaretz has published a report revealing details of a plan to construct a residential tower in occupied Jerusalem. According to the paper, the Jerusalem Regional Planning and Building Committee has approved a plan to build the “Epstein Tower” atop Mount Herzl.

This tower, intended for residential, hotel, and commercial purposes, is set to be the tallest in Jerusalem, standing at 40 floors. It has been dubbed the “Jerusalem Burj Khalifa.”

The regional and local planning committees of the Israeli occupation’s municipality in Jerusalem have approved the project to build this towering skyscraper, the tallest in the city, under the name “Jerusalem Khalifa Tower,” mimicking Dubai’s iconic structure.

The tower will be located in the settlement neighborhood of “Kiryat Yovel” on the lands of the depopulated village of Ein Karem, west of Jerusalem, opposite the “Military Cemetery” and the “Yad Vashem” museum, which are considered important landmarks for settlers.

According to the developing company, the tower will reach a height of 197 meters (56 floors), but the Jerusalem Municipality seeks to reduce the height to 170 meters (48 floors).

The project, being built on the ruins of displaced Palestinians, will be designed by the global architectural firm Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill, responsible for designing Dubai’s iconic Burj Khalifa, in collaboration with an Israeli architect.

It is worth noting that a heated debate occurred last week in Jerusalem about this tower, with approximately 200 objections submitted to the Regional Planning and Building Committee due to its proposed location and height.

Widespread Objections

The Subcommittee for Objections, part of the Regional Committee, announced its decision to reject most of the objections to the plan, although the building’s height was reduced by about 30 meters.

Approximately 200 objections had been submitted, with opponents arguing that the tower’s construction does not align with the environment, distorts the skyline of Jerusalem, and affects the character of Mount Herzl and the rural nature of the nearby Ein Karem neighborhood.

The tower’s height and its location on one of the highest peaks in the city mean it will be visible from great distances.

According to the plan, the tower will include 240 housing units, 50 of which will be small apartments, and another 50 designated for long-term rentals. The tower will also feature 11,000 square meters for hotel use, 300 square meters for commercial purposes, and a large public institution that may serve as a museum or cultural center, though its nature has yet to be determined. Additionally, a large plaza will be constructed below the tower.

Opponents of the construction plan are expected to request an additional hearing before the Appeals Committee or resort to the courts.