Minister of Culture will allocate 1.5 million CZK for the relocation of the tower in Jerusalem

Prague - The lookout tower, which was built in Jerusalem according to the design of architect Martin Rajniš, must be relocated. This was announced to journalists today by Culture Minister Antonín Staněk (ČSSD). The ministry will allocate 1.5 million crowns for this purpose. Staněk stated that if the tower were not relocated, it would have to be removed. The wooden tower, shaped like a blooming cactus, has stood in Jerusalem since 2017 and symbolizes the close relationship between the Czech Republic and Israel. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is expected to allocate a similar amount for the relocation, and the city of Jerusalem will also contribute, Staněk said.

"A contract was signed declaring that the tower would be there only for a limited time. Furthermore, it stands in a garden that is part of a cultural heritage site in Jerusalem, and its height does not comply with the limits of that area. The contract has been extended several times, and unfortunately, neither we nor the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were aware of it. We learned about it only during discussions in Jerusalem," Staněk told ČTK.

The lookout tower was opened in November 2017. The structure, the height of a five-story building, resembles a cactus in bloom. The wooden canopies at the top of the tower, which protect visitors from the sun and can be closed in inclement weather, evoke petals. The lookout tower stands in a prominent location in Jerusalem near the walls of the Old City. The then director of the Czech Centre in Tel Aviv, Lukáš Přibyl, approached architect Martin Rajniš with the idea of designing a new observation tower.

The project was funded partly by the Czech Republic, partly by Israel, but it was also financed through a public fundraiser, which the author participated in. The tower is intended to symbolize the close relationship between the Czech Republic and Israel and serve as a space for lectures, workshops, and cultural events.