Jerusalem’s Light Rail Project Sparks Controversy

Pedestrians walk as a light rail tram passes by in Jerusalem November 11, 2014. (Reuters)
Pedestrians walk as a light rail tram passes by in Jerusalem November 11, 2014. (Reuters)
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Jerusalem’s Light Rail Project Sparks Controversy

Pedestrians walk as a light rail tram passes by in Jerusalem November 11, 2014. (Reuters)
Pedestrians walk as a light rail tram passes by in Jerusalem November 11, 2014. (Reuters)

The Palestinian Authority (PA) asked the government of Spain to prevent a Spanish company from participating in constructing infrastructure on occupied territories.

Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles (CAF) won a tender earlier this year to build a part of the Jerusalem tram project.

Sources at the Spanish international news agency, EFE, revealed that the PA vocally expressed its disapproval of the manufacturer taking part in the project, which will cut deep into occupied territory.

The tram is set to connect Israeli settlements in east Jerusalem to occupied territories in the West Bank.

In Jerusalem, where Israel has been occupying the eastern part since 1967, there is an already operational tram line in service since 2011, and which has already sparked controversy for linking Jewish settlements in East Jerusalem with West Jerusalem.

The new project will include the construction of 114 new trams and the rehabilitation of 46 units that are currently operational.

However, Palestinians are urging the Spanish company to withdraw from the project because of its impact on the occupied territories and warned that the continuation of this work may violate international law.

“Any attempt by any company to do business in the occupied territories would be violating international law,” former PA foreign minister Nasser al-Qudwa had said.

He clarified that if CAF does not rollback its participation it will be faced with multiple lawsuits.



US Economy Shrinks 0.3% in 1st Quarter as Trump Says 'Be Patient'

President Donald Trump speaks during a cabinet meeting at the White House, Wednesday, April 30, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
President Donald Trump speaks during a cabinet meeting at the White House, Wednesday, April 30, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
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US Economy Shrinks 0.3% in 1st Quarter as Trump Says 'Be Patient'

President Donald Trump speaks during a cabinet meeting at the White House, Wednesday, April 30, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
President Donald Trump speaks during a cabinet meeting at the White House, Wednesday, April 30, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that Americans should be patient in the face of a first quarter economic contraction, arguing that his tariffs would eventually lead to a boom in the US economy.

The economy shrank 0.3% from January through March, first drop in three years. It was slowed by a surge in imports as companies in the United States tried to bring in foreign goods before Trump imposed massive tariffs.
The January-March expansion was the slowest in almost three years and was down from 2.4% in the last three months of 2024. Imports shaved 5 percentage points off first-quarter growth. Consumer spending also slowed sharply.
Trump inherited a solid economy that had grown steadily despite high interest rates imposed by the Federal Reserve to fight inflation. His trade policies — including 145% tariffs on China — have paralyzed businesses and threatened to raise prices and hurt consumers.

Republican Trump blamed his Democratic predecessor, Joe Biden, for the poor showing.

"This is Biden’s Stock Market, not Trump’s," he said. "Our Country will boom, but we have to get rid of the Biden 'Overhang.'

Trump added: "This will take a while, has NOTHING TO DO WITH TARIFFS, only that he left us with bad numbers, but when the boom begins, it will be like no other. BE PATIENT!!!"