From the Liveblog of
Sunday, March 9, 2025
PM opens new light rail line in Jerusalem, says wars not hampering development
Nava Freiberg is The Times of Israel's deputy diplomatic correspondent.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu inaugurates an extension of the Jerusalem light rail, opening the new Red Line, saying that despite Israel’s ongoing conflicts, the country was still pressing ahead with infrastructure development
As Israel fights on seven fronts, determined to achieve victory, says Netanyahu at the inauguration ceremony, “we are not giving up on building the country and strengthening our capital.”
The infrastructure project adds 22 stations and 22 kilometers of distance from Neve Ya’akov in the north to Hadassah Ein Kerem hospital in the south, according to the Prime Minister’s Office.
The new line is “much more than just tracks and carriages — it is a lifeline that connects the city, eases transportation, strengthens the local economy, and allows tens of thousands of families to reach their workplaces, schools, healthcare centers, and commercial hubs much faster,” the prime minister says at the ceremony, alongside Transportation Minister Miri Regev.
“The Jerusalem of tomorrow will not only be the holiest city in the world, but also one of the most connected, smartest, and most advanced cities in the world,” continues Netanyahu.
The prime minister also addresses future expansions including the Green Line, which would connect Mount Scopus to Har Homa, and a Blue Line, which “will cut across Jerusalem from south to north.”
The Times of Israel Community.