Petition seeks to block yeshiva project for foreign students on east Jerusalem public land

Three nonprofit organizations have petitioned the Jerusalem District Court to overturn the approval of a plan for a yeshiva and dormitory for foreign students on public land in East Jerusalem's Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood. Ir Amim, the Sheikh Jarrah Welfare Association, and the Umm Lison Women's Association filed the petition against planning committees and the Ohr Somayach institutions, which initiated the plan. The petitioners argue that the 4.3-dunam site, previously designated for public use, is being diverted from serving local residents despite a severe shortage of public buildings in East Jerusalem. They also requested a freeze on the plan's advancement while the court considers their challenge, stating, “The yeshiva project is part of the wider series of moves threatening Sheikh Jarrah residents.”