Jerusalem Development Authority

File:ככר ספרא בניין 2.jpg]]

According to Ira Sharkansky, the mandate of the Jerusalem Development Authority involves "encouraging, planning, and initiating activities concerned with the economic development of Jerusalem and coordinating Jerusalem's economic development among government ministries, municipal officials, and other bodies."{{cite book|last=Sharkanksy|first=Ira|title=Governing Jerusalem: Again on the World's Agenda|year=1996|publisher=Wayne State University Press|location=Detroit|isbn=0-8143-2592-0|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jKdKSqe78DIC|authorlink=Ira Sharkansky|accessdate=2 June 2012}}{{Rp|106}} Established as a statutory corporation through the Jerusalem Development Authority Law 1988, by 1992 the Authority had invested over $1 billion in construction projects and initiatives relating to science and technology in Jerusalem.{{cite web|title=JDA The Jerusalem Development Authority|url=http://duns100.dundb.co.il/comp_eng_600213771/JDA_The_Jerusalem_Development_Authority/|publisher=Dun & Bradstreet Israel|accessdate=27 May 2012|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130108005839/http://duns100.dundb.co.il/comp_eng_600213771/JDA_The_Jerusalem_Development_Authority/|archive-date=8 January 2013|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|title=Jerusalem towards the 21st century|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-12498943.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160531230942/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-12498943.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=31 May 2016|accessdate=28 May 2012|newspaper=Israel Business Today|date=5 June 1992}} The Authority was among the factors influencing the decision of Teva Pharmaceuticals in 2003 to build a facility in Jerusalem.{{cite news|last=Nissim |first=Gil |title=Teva to build Jerusalem plant |url=http://www.globes.co.il/serveen/globes/docview.asp?did=683192 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130107222241/http://www.globes.co.il/serveen/globes/docview.asp?did=683192 |url-status=dead |archive-date=7 January 2013 |accessdate=28 May 2012 |newspaper=Globes |date=24 April 2003 }} Its largest investors, according to Sharkansky, have been prominent Jews from outside Israel.{{Rp|112}}

In 2001, Eden, a subsidiary of the Jerusalem Development Authority, was established with the aim of developing and reviving Jerusalem's downtown area. By early 2012, Eden had invested {{Nowrap|NIS300 million}} in development projects. Originally conceived as a ten-year operation, it was authorized to continue operating for an additional ten years.{{cite news|last=Bar-Eli|first=Avi|title=Downtown returns to center stage|url=http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/business/downtown-returns-to-center-stage-1.213434|accessdate=2 June 2012|newspaper=Haaretz|date=19 February 2007}}{{cite news|last=Pauzner|first=Shay|title=עיר ובלבה רמונט: התוכנית המלאה לשיפוץ מרכז ירושלים נחשפת|url=http://www.calcalist.co.il/real_estate/articles/0,7340,L-3560844,00.html|accessdate=2 June 2012|newspaper=Calcalist|date=2 February 2012|language=Hebrew|trans-title=Renovating the city center: the full renovation plan for Jerusalem's city center revealed|quote=עדן הוקמה בשנת 2001 כזרוע עסקית־יזמית ייעודית של הרשות לפיתוח ירושלים.}}

File:Uziel Wechsler.jpg

Uziel (Uzi) Wexler, who earlier had served as treasurer of the Jerusalem municipality under mayor Teddy Kollek, founded the Jerusalem Development Authority in 1988 and served as its director from 1989 to 1994. He later served as the Authority's chairman from 1997 to 2003.{{cite news|last=Lichtman|first=Gail|title=Trouble developing|url=http://www.jpost.com/LocalIsrael/InJerusalem/Article.aspx?id=47018|accessdate=28 May 2012|newspaper=The Jerusalem Post|date=4 January 2007}} Teddy Kollek was a key figure behind the Authority's establishment.{{cite news|last=Kroyanker|first=David|title=Heart and soul of Jerusalem|url=http://www.haaretz.com/weekend/week-s-end/heart-and-soul-of-jerusalem-1.209190|accessdate=27 May 2012|newspaper=Haaretz|date=4 January 2007}}

Moshe Goldstein, once mayor of Ma'aleh Adumim, was chairman of the Authority for three years until 2008. Since 2008 is used Moshe Lion, former director general of the Prime Minister's Office and chairman of Israel Railways. In 2013, Lion resigned from his position in order to run for mayor of Jerusalem. As of 2018, Lion serves as mayor.{{cite news|title=הג'וב החדש של משה ליאון: יו"ר הרשות לפיתוח ירושלים |url=http://www.globes.co.il/news/article.aspx?did=1000350642 |accessdate=17 June 2012 |newspaper=Globes |date=11 June 2008 |author=Baron, Lior |author2=Bargil, Orit |language=Hebrew |quote=הוא צפוי להחליף את היו"ר הנוכחי, ישראל גולדשטיין, שמסיים קדנציה של 3 שנים בתפקיד. |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304202241/http://www.globes.co.il/news/article.aspx?did=1000350642 |archivedate= 4 March 2016 }}{{cite news|title=משה ליאון מונה ליו"ר הרשות לפיתוח ירושלים|url=http://www.inn.co.il/News/Flash.aspx/224266|accessdate=17 June 2012|newspaper=Arutz Sheva|date=23 July 2008|language=Hebrew|trans-title=Moshe Leon appointed chairman of the Jerusalem Development Authority}}

Moty Hazan, who replaced Israel Bargil as director of the Jerusalem Development Authority in 2010, began his involvement with the Jerusalem municipality as a student in the mid-1990s working at the city's call center. Over time he was promoted to a position with the treasury department's budget committee and later to the position of deputy treasurer. Credited for his contribution to balancing the city's budgets and for his involvement in the city's recovery program, by 2010 he was City Hall's preferred candidate for the position of director of the Authority.{{cite news|last=Steinmetz|first=Moshe|title=סיפורו של המוקדן שהפך למנכ"ל הרשות לפיתוח י-ם|url=http://www.nrg.co.il/online/54/ART2/098/324.html|accessdate=12 June 2012|newspaper=Nrg Maariv|date=25 April 2010|language=Hebrew|trans-title=The story of the CSA who became CEO of the Jerusalem Development Authority|quote=כשהחליט להתמודד שמו עלה כמעט באופן טבעי כמועמד המועדף על בכירי העירייה לתפקיד, הודות לתקציב העירוני המאוזן וההכרה בתרומתו הרבה ליישום המוצלח של תכנית ההבראה בעירייה.}}

The Jerusalem Development Authority reached an agreement in 2005 to collaborate with a firm in the Netherlands to promote innovation in the fields of biotechnology, information technology and tourism. The joint venture was conceived as part of the Israel–Europe R&D Directorate.{{cite web|title=הרשות לפיתוח ירושלים והרשות לפיתוח הגליל ינהלו פרויקטים עבור התוכנית האירופית בהיקף של 2.8 מיליון |url=http://www.tamas.gov.il/NR/exeres/AE13EFCD-DB20-4C33-B24E-7B845757B705.htm |publisher=Israel Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor |accessdate=11 June 2012 |language=Hebrew |trans-title=Jerusalem Development Authority and Galilee Development Authority to lead projects for European program worth 2.8 million |date=24 May 2005 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304052114/http://www.tamas.gov.il/NR/exeres/AE13EFCD-DB20-4C33-B24E-7B845757B705.htm |archivedate= 4 March 2016 }}

During a five-day mission to Israel of figures from San Antonio, Texas' business and academic community in 2011, led by San Antonio mayor Julian Castro, the Jerusalem Development Authority's BioJerusalem signed a memorandum of intent with the president of {{Nowrap|BioMed SA}}, a San Antonio-based nonprofit initiative operating in the healthcare and bioscience sectors.{{cite web|title=Texas, Israel pursue joint ventures|url=http://israel21c.org/social-action-2/texas-israel-pursue-joint-ventures/|publisher=Israel21c|accessdate=11 June 2012|date=24 October 2011}}

{{See also|Science and technology in Israel}}

In 2003 the Jerusalem Development Authority, together with Teva Pharmaceuticals and other investors, founded BioLineRx, a drug development company with headquarters in Jerusalem. In 2006, with additional funding from its investors, BioLineRx launched BioLine Innovations Jerusalem, Israel's first biotechnology incubator.{{cite news|last=Grimland|first=Guy|title=לראשונה בישראל: חממה ייעודית לביוטכנולוגיה; המדען הראשי העניק לה 21 מיליון דולר|url=http://www.haaretz.co.il/misc/1.1132622|accessdate=11 June 2012|newspaper=Haaretz|date=29 August 2006|language=Hebrew|trans-title=First time in Israel: Biotechnology incubator; Chief Scientist awards $21 million}}

The Jerusalem Development Authority announced the launch of BioJerusalem in mid-2007.{{cite news|last=Gold|first=Alissa|title=BioJerusalem takes off|url=http://www.jpost.com/LandedPages/PrintArticle.aspx?id=66422|accessdate=28 May 2012|newspaper=The Jerusalem Post|date=27 June 2007}} The initiative offers monetary incentives to biotechnology companies who relocate their facilities to Jerusalem or set up operations there.{{cite news|last=Shamah|first=David|title=Breathing new life into Jerusalem|url=http://www.jpost.com/LocalIsrael/InJerusalem/Article.aspx?id=196785|accessdate=2 June 2012|newspaper=The Jerusalem Post|date=26 November 2011}}

In cooperation with Ruach Hadasha, a student-oriented nonprofit, and in an effort to encourage students to remain in Jerusalem after having completed their academic studies, as of 2009 the Jerusalem Development Authority acts as an interface between college and university graduates and more than 100 Jerusalem-based institutions offering internship programs. In addition, students are offered benefits and monetary incentives if they choose to live downtown and commit to remaining in the city after completing their studies.{{cite news|last=Lichtman|first=Gail|title=City Front: Academic city|url=http://www.jpost.com/LandedPages/PrintArticle.aspx?id=151044|accessdate=2 June 2012|newspaper=The Jerusalem Post|date=6 July 2009}}

In 2011 a plan by the Jerusalem Development Authority to expand and restructure Jerusalem's academic landscape was announced. Dubbed AcademiCity ({{Langx|he|עיר.אקדמיה}}), the plan called for the construction of a school for overseas students in downtown Jerusalem, the relocation to Jerusalem of Hebrew University's Agricultural Department in Rehovot, the establishment in Jerusalem of a branch of the Israel Defense Forces' Command and Staff College, and the establishment of a Machon Lev campus for girls in Jerusalem's Pisgat Ze'ev neighborhood.{{cite news|title=עיר אקדמיה: התוכנית לפיתוח ההשכלה הגבוהה בירושלים נחשפת|url=http://www.nrg.co.il/online/54/ART2/219/734.html|accessdate=2 June 2012|newspaper=Nrg Maariv|date=8 March 2011|author=Politansky, Adi|author2=Meniv, Omri|language=Hebrew|trans-title=Academic City: the plan for the development of Jerusalem's higher education revealed}}

Hamshushalayim ({{Langx|he|חמשושלים}}) is an annual cultural festival initiated{{when|date=September 2012}} by the Jerusalem Development Authority together with the Prime Minister's Office and the Jerusalem municipality. The festival takes its name from the word hamshush, military slang meaning "weekend beginning on Thursday," combined with the Hebrew name for Jerusalem, Yerushalayim. It lasts for three weekends during the month of December and includes free entrance to museums, guided tours, musical performances, and discounted hotels.{{cite news|last=Miller|first=Ari|title=Weekends of Jerusalem fun|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-116284996.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160409170534/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-116284996.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=9 April 2016|accessdate=10 June 2012|newspaper=The Jerusalem Post|date=25 November 2005|page=9}} 480,000 people were drawn to hamshushalayim in 2008.{{cite news|last=מייטליס|first=יערה|title=חמשושלים: עליה של 20% בכמות המבקרים|url=http://www.inn.co.il/News/News.aspx/183067|accessdate=10 June 2012|newspaper=Arutz Sheva|date=21 December 2008|language=Hebrew|trans-title=Hamshushalayim: 20 increase in number of visitors}}

File:Fastivall1.JPG (2012)]]

The Jerusalem Festival of Lights is a joint initiative of the Jerusalem Development Authority, the Jerusalem Municipality, the Prime Minister's Office, and the Ariel Company. First launched in 2009, the festival takes place annually in and around Jerusalem's Old City and features works of light art created by various artists.{{cite news|last=Ronen|first=Gil|title=Photo Essay: Jerusalem Puts On Light Show|url=http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/131844#.T9dAQBce6bs|accessdate=12 June 2012|newspaper=Arutz Sheva|date=13 June 2009}}{{cite news|last=Lidman|first=Melanie|title=Third annual Jerusalem Lights Festival to kick off|url=http://www.jpost.com/Headlines/Article.aspx?id=224955|accessdate=12 June 2012|newspaper=The Jerusalem Post|date=14 June 2011}}{{cite news|last=Bronstein|first=Dani|title=Dazzling nights in the Old City|url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/the-lights-are-out-in-jerusalems-old-city/|accessdate=12 June 2012|newspaper=The Times of Israel|date=8 June 2012}}

{{See also|Gazelle Valley}}

The Jerusalem Development Authority has proposed the creation of a network of green areas to surround the northern and eastern parts of the Old City of Jerusalem. The areas, totaling 2,500 dunams (600 acres) in size, would include bike paths and hiking paths making it possible to reach the Pool of Siloam from Mount Scopus.{{cite news|last=Lidman|first=Melanie|title=National park in east Jerusalem stirs controversy|url=http://www.jpost.com/NationalNews/Article.aspx?id=248435|accessdate=2 June 2012|newspaper=The Jerusalem Post|date=7 December 2011}}{{cite news|last=Lidman|first=Melanie|title=Plans for east J'lem national park anger residents|url=http://www.jpost.com/NationalNews/Article.aspx?id=252465&R=R2|accessdate=3 June 2012|newspaper=The Jerusalem Post|date=6 January 2012}}

• The King's Garden archeological park is a 12-acre park proposed for development in what is today the Arab neighborhood of al-Bustan in East Jerusalem's Silwan neighborhood. The designated area is widely accepted as the site of the garden mentioned in the Song of Songs book of the Hebrew Bible.{{cite news|last=Hasson|first=Nir|title=Israeli researchers: Jerusalem's trendiest street built over biblical site|url=http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/israeli-researchers-jerusalem-s-trendiest-street-built-over-biblical-site-1.391423|accessdate=4 June 2012|newspaper=Haaretz|date=23 October 2011|quote=The accepted site of the garden is the intersection of the Kidron and Hinnom valleys, which is today the lower section of the Silwan neighborhood.}} The plan for the park calls for the demolition of 22 Palestinian homes constructed without permits on land originally zoned as parkland while legalizing 66 others. The Secretary General of the United Nations said the removal of the 22 homes would itself be illegal.{{cite news|title=UN chief slams Silwan plan|url=http://www.jpost.com/International/Article.aspx?id=179368|accessdate=4 June 2012|newspaper=The Jerusalem Post|date=24 June 2010|agency=Associated Press}}
• The Slopes of Mount Scopus national park is a 73.2-hectare (181-acre) park proposed for development in the hills between the Arab neighborhoods of Isawiya and at-Tur in East Jerusalem. Most of the land is privately owned by residents of the two neighborhoods. The proposal was opposed by city council member Meir Margalit, who called it a pretext for the future establishment of Israeli settlements. The Jerusalem Development Authority has said the park is important in order to preserve the Isawiya–a-Tur area's last remaining stretch of undeveloped land, to safeguard it from acts of vandalism, and to develop tourism.

File:Damascus Gate - שער שכם.jpg

The Jerusalem Development Authority administered the Jerusalem City Walls Conservation Project in cooperation with the Prime Minister's Office and the Israel Antiquities Authority beginning in 2007.{{cite web|title=The Conservation of Jerusalem's City Walls|url=http://www.antiquities.org.il/jerusalemwalls/default-eng.asp|publisher=Israel Antiquities Authority|accessdate=29 May 2012}} Within the framework of the project, by the summer of 2011 half of the Old City walls had undergone cleaning and restoration treatment. Six months of restoration work performed at Zion Gate culminated in a moving rededication ceremony in July 2008 attended by veterans of the Palmach, 468 years after the gate had originally been built.{{cite news|last=Fendel|first=Hillel|title=Mt. Zion Gate Dedicated Again - on 468th Birthday|url=http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/127017#.T8UMEFJq1Ns|accessdate=29 May 2012|newspaper=Arutz Sheva|date=30 July 2008}} Two months of restoration work performed at Jaffa Gate were completed in April 2010, and an official rededication ceremony was held to mark the occasion, 472 years after the gate was first dedicated.{{cite news|last=Fendel|first=Hillel|title=New and Improved Jaffa Gate Re-Dedicated|url=http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/137131#.T8UCm7Atibs|accessdate=29 May 2012|newspaper=Arutz Sheva|date=21 April 2010}} The restoration of Herod's Gate was completed in June 2010, whereupon a reinauguration ceremony was held attended by the Old City's Nawar mukhtar, Abed-Alhakim Mohammed Deeb Salim.{{cite news|last=Selig|first=Abe|title=Jerusalem's Herod's Gate receives face-lift|url=http://www.jpost.com/LocalIsrael/InJerusalem/Article.aspx?id=179855|accessdate=29 May 2012|newspaper=The Jerusalem Post|date=29 June 2010}} The restoration work at Damascus Gate, lasting more than a year and completed in August 2011, involved the reconstruction of part of a crenellated turret damaged in the Six-Day War.{{cite news|last=Lidman|first=Melanie|title=Damascus Gate declared restored after IAA work|url=http://www.jpost.com/NationalNews/Article.aspx?id=234086|accessdate=29 May 2012|newspaper=The Jerusalem Post|date=17 August 2011}} The project, lasting a total of five years, was declared complete in September 2012 after restoration work performed at Lions' Gate – the seventh and last gate to be restored – was concluded.{{cite news|last=Ya'ar|first=Chana|title=Preservation of Jerusalem's Old City Walls Completed|url=http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/159837#.UGLaB64hpNs|accessdate=26 September 2012|newspaper=Arutz Sheva|date=10 September 2012}}

In 2012 the Israeli Cabinet approved the establishment in Jerusalem of a museum dedicated to the legacy of Albert Einstein. A joint project of Hebrew University and the Jerusalem Development Authority, the museum will showcase thousands of documents currently stored at Hebrew University illustrating among other things Einstein's extensive involvement in the Zionist movement in the 1900s.{{cite news|title=Albert Einstein museum to be built in Jerusalem|url=http://www.jta.org/news/article/2012/05/21/3096001/albert-einstein-museum-to-be-built-in-jerusalem|accessdate=8 June 2012|newspaper=The Jewish Telegraphic Agency|date=21 May 2012}}{{cite news|last=Shtull-Trauring|first=Asaf|title=Israeli museum hopes to make Einstein's genius relatively accessible|url=http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/israeli-museum-hopes-to-make-einstein-s-genius-relatively-accessible-1.431581|accessdate=8 June 2012|newspaper=Haaretz|date=21 May 2012}}

{{See also|Moshe Safdie}}

The Safdie Plan was a project initiated by the Israel Land Administration and the Jerusalem Development Authority during the term of Ehud Olmert as mayor of Jerusalem. It called for the construction of 20,000 housing units on undeveloped land to the west of the city. Environmentalists mobilized to have the Safdie Plan scrapped, and it was suspended by Mayor Uri Lupolianski in 2007.{{cite news|last=Lori|first=Aviva|title=Master builder|url=http://www.haaretz.com/weekend/magazine/master-builder-1.210394|accessdate=2 June 2012|newspaper=Haaretz|date=18 January 2007}}{{cite news|title=Greens celebrate victory as Safdie Plan is rejected|url=http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/greens-celebrate-victory-as-safdie-plan-is-rejected-1.212203|accessdate=2 June 2012|newspaper=Haaretz|date=7 February 2007|author=Bar-Eli, Avi|author2=Rinat, Zafrir}}{{cite news|title=Court shafts last vestige of Safdie plan|url=http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/court-shafts-last-vestige-of-safdie-plan-1.253313|accessdate=2 June 2012|newspaper=Haaretz|date=5 September 2008|author=Lis, Jonathan|author2=Rinat, Zafrir}}

• Erel Margalit

{{Reflist|2}}

• [http://www.biojerusalem.org.il/ BioJerusalem] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120711171023/http://www.biojerusalem.org.il/ |date=2012-07-11 }}
• [http://www.iserd.org.il/ ISERD—The Israel–Europe R&D Directorate]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20160306150936/http://israellawresourcecenter.org/israellaws/fulltext/jerusalemdev.htm Jerusalem Development Authority Law, 5748—1988] – published by the Israel Law Resource Center

Category:Economy of Jerusalem

Category:Organizations established in 1988

Category:Organizations based in Jerusalem

Category:1988 establishments in Israel