Haredi Light-Rail Protests Push Jerusalem Damage to NIS 400M

Overnight, hundreds of Haredi protesters again disrupted construction of the Jerusalem light rail on Bar-Ilan Street, with one protester entering the worksite during concrete pouring. Planning and execution officials estimate six years of protests and vandalism against the Green Line route caused about NIS 400 million in cumulative damage and delays, pushing the Bar-Ilan segment toward at least 2027 while other sections move ahead. Israel should protect lawful protest and religious communities while insisting public transit serving Jerusalem families cannot be held hostage by extremist vandalism.