Ynhockey

I went there (stood at the first line) and will bring a report with pictures (will be posted at Tapuz, I'll post a link here, plus some English).

Ynhockey

פורו×� תחבורה ציבורית - חגיגות גשר הרק"ל ×*וסח ירושלי×� - ×�ין רקד×*יות!

My posts are at the bottom (at the moment, later may be in the middle).

Basically I said in the 'report' that it was too crowded, all the speeches (Lupoliansky, Mofaz, Olmert) were recorded, and lots of people protested about stuff. And of course, the famous boo that the name Olmert invoked.

TalB

Globes [online] – business and technology news from Israel
Hapoalim, Leumi renew Jerusalem light rail funding

The banks suspended their loans to Citypass in July 2007.

Lior Baron 22 Jul 08 16:48

Sources inform ''Globes'' that Bank Hapoalim (TASE: POLI; LSE:80OA) and Bank Leumi (TASE: LUMI) have renewed their loans to Citypass Ltd., the Jerusalem light rail franchisee. The consortium was working with no funding for the past year.

A Bank Hapoalim team headed by deputy CEO and head of corporate banking Zion Keinan visited construction sites in Jerusalem to monitor progress.

Bank Hapoalim and Bank Leumi suspended their loans to Citypass in July 2007 because of problems in the project. The banks agreed to renew the loans after the company and the state signed a compromise agreement with Citypass two months ago.

Under this agreement, the state will pay Citypass NIS 150 million compensation for cancelling all future claims by the company for delays in the project. The agreement also postponed the inauguration of the light rail by 20 months to September 2010.

After the banks froze their loans, Citypass was forced to finance construction work from the shareholders' equity of its members. Citypass reportedly spent NIS 100 million on infrastructure work, mostly financed by Ashtrom Group Ltd.

Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - Globes [online] – business and technology news from Israel - on July 22, 2008

© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2008

__________________
I have respected your views, so I expect you to do the same for me.

TalB

Globes [online] – business and technology news from Israel
Jerusalem light rail delays deter private sector

Harel blames the Jerusalem municipality for the project's postponement.

Lior Baron and Adrian Filut 16 Sep 08 15:38

"The conduct of the Jerusalem light rail project persuaded me not to become involved in any more infrastructure projects in Israel," Harel Insurance chairman Yair Hamburger told Prime Minister Ehud Olmert during his meeting last week with business sector leaders. Harel Insurance Investments and Financial Services Ltd. (TASE: HARL) owns 20% of project's franchisee, CityPass

Hamburger hinted at the repeated disputes between CityPass and the Jerusalem municipality, which have delayed the light rail project. He implied that the government must work harder to make joint public and private sector projects worthwhile for both sides. His comments implied that he mostly blames the Jerusalem municipality and the Ministry of Transport for the delays, not the Ministry of Finance.

Harel recently acquired 10% of CityPass from Polar Investments Ltd. (TASE: PLR), and has an option to buy an additional 17.5% stake through Harel subsidiary Israel Infrastructure Fund (IIF). IIF is also negotiating to buy a stake in Carmelton, the Carmel tunnels franchisee, which is owned by Housing and Construction Holding Co. Ltd. (Shikun u'Binui) (TASE: HUCN) and Ashtrom Properties Ltd. (TASE:ASPR).

Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - Globes [online] – business and technology news from Israel - on September 16, 2008

© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2008

__________________
I have respected your views, so I expect you to do the same for me.

NYC2TLV

Article about the effects the Jerusalem light rail is having on owners of the shops in central Jerusalem. Some of these shops I wish would disappear though I feel bad for the family owned businesses that will eventually go under:

Ynet הרכבת הקלה בבירה - טוב �ו רע לעסקי�? - כלכלה