The neighborhood of Givat Hamatos is planned for construction in southern Jerusalem northwest of the Mar Elias Monastery, west of Hebron Rd., south of the Talpiot industrial area and west of Beit Safafa.  Presently, Givat Hamatos houses a small number of small mobile homes populated mainly by immigrants from Ethiopia.

Plans to construct an Israeli neighborhood at Givat Hamatos have been initiated by the Israel Lands Authority, and are being presented in four small plans, and being advanced piecemeal:

• Plan 5834A – for 2,337 housing units was approved for validation in September 2008
• Plan 5834B – for 549 housing units – this plan was deposited (published in ads) in January 2010
• Plan 5934C – for 813 housing units – the objections for this plan were discussed at the regional committee February 2010
• Plan 5934D – for 1,100 hotel rooms – wasn’t yet approved for deposit

Ir Amim has submitted several objections against the plans at Givat Hamatos.  On March 25, 2008 Ir Amim submitted its objection against Plan 5834A  of the Jerusalem District Planning and Building Committee to build 2337 new housing units on Givat Hamatos. Ir Amim claimed that the plan, as submitted to the planning committee, would violate both the quality of life in the adjacent Palestinian neighborhood of Beit Safafa by not considering the needs of the residents of Beit Safafa, while also confiscating a large portion of land that belongs to residents of Beit Safafa.

In February 2010, Ir Amim submitted its objection against Plan 5934C against the construction of 813 housing units. 
  
The Givat Hamatos plan is of critical importance because it touches upon one of the most complex parts of Jerusalem and also because it will limit the rights of Beit Safafa's residents to utilize their land.

Additional Information:

Giv'at Hamatos Map More information about the plan (from the ILA website)