On Monday, June 8, 2020, KKL-JNF’s Board of Directors approved its participation in the Jerusalem International Convention Center project, in conjunction with the Jerusalem Municipality and the Jewish Agency. ICC Jerusalem was established in
1950 by KKL-JNF, the Jewish Agency and the Jerusalem Economic Development Company, who worked together to create an international conference center that would epitomize the sovereignty of the young Jewish state and serve as a meeting point for world Jewry.
Fast forward 50 years later to the Jerusalem Gateway Project, a business complex planned for the city entrance that will extend over 75 acres (40 of which are designated to public spaces), and contain 24 office towers and a transportation hub integrating a high-speed train, two light rail lines, public transit lanes, and bike lanes. Once complete, the Jerusalem Gateway is expected to provide 60,000 new jobs and 2,000 additional hotel rooms for the city. The overall cost of the project is estimated at 1.83 billion NIS (over 500 million USD). Construction will take place in stages throughout the coming decade.
The heart of the complex will be the International Convention Center, which, according to project planners, will contain the “largest convention and conference center in the Middle East”. KKL-JNF’s participation in the ICC upgrade symbolizes the closing of a circle begun 50 years ago as part of its mission to put Israel’s capital city on the world stage.
Upon approval of the ICC project by the Board of Directors, KKL-JNF World Chairman
Daniel Atar said, “Promoting and strengthening Jerusalem is one of our organization’s main objectives: the capital of the Jewish People is vitally important, both historically and today. The Jerusalem Gateway Project is a flagship plan for Jerusalem: it will strengthen the city and enable Israel to compete with other capitals as an attractive venue for conferences and other events.”