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I remember that the last time we were here, the Director-General of the Municipality (back then you were not yet Director-General, but I guess you keep moving up in these positions), you took me on a tour of the tracks. It was the beginning of the process, far from the point we are at today, but I believe we made considerable progress. You have really done an exceptional job.
I am very pleased that we did this in Jerusalem, as it is the largest city in Israel, with a population of 704,000 (which will most likely continue to grow), and also because it is the united and eternal capital of Israel. There is certainly a great meaning and significance to this action in Jerusalem. I want to congratulate you on everything that you have done and everything that you are doing.
The light train is a combination of two fields in which my Government invests – developing the infrastructures and strengthening Jerusalem. With regard to the infrastructures, we initiated a comprehensive and revolutionary plan for the train, in the framework of which we strengthened the connection to Jerusalem through the train going to Beit-Shemesh and the train we are constructing now, Tel Aviv, the Ben-Gurion airport, Modi’in and Jerusalem in a speedy and short journey. We are currently working on a similar plan for the roads, and the Minister of Transportation mentioned that we held a very important discussion today on the preparations to combat traffic accidents and improve transportation infrastructures.
Unfortunately, we have witnessed a number of train accidents, and I ask you to make every effort to prevent this. Do not leave it to various committees. Do your utmost to give an answer, close any loophole. We must stop this.
This is a unique project with foreign investment, and the fact that it begins in Jerusalem is very important. An example for strengthening Jerusalem is the multi-annual plan of 280 million NIS recently approved by the Government in order to assist in the advancement and development of Jerusalem, bringing more residents, encouraging young couples, and so forth. I know that Jerusalem needs more, but we are also facing more than a few adversities. This is what we decided, and I believe that in the future we can do more, as our economic situation improves – and we have indications that the economy is improving. In Jerusalem there is much more to be done.
We certainly see greater education and hi-tech industries in Jerusalem, and with regard to this train, two routes are missing – one to the university and the other to the Hadassah Ein Karem hospital. If we could connect these two edges, it would be an exceptional thing.
I believe that this should be done, and in any event, anything that can be done to strengthen Jerusalem, construct it, expand it and sustain it for eternity as the capital of the Jewish people and the united capital of the State of Israel, should be done. And I pledge to that I will support any such effort, in order to advance it.
I wish you good luck, and thank you for your achievements.
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