Malcha is a neighborhood in south-west of Jerusalem. In the past there was an Arab village in the area called Al-Malcha. The Arab residents worked with agricultural growth and sold rose water to the Jews, but in 1948, during the Israeli independent war, they deserted the village.
The neighborhood borders with Gilo Forest in the south, the Katamonim in the east, Ramat Sharet, Ramat Denia and Ir Ganim in the north and Givat massuah in the west.
Today, with about 4,000 residents, Malcha attracts many visitors to its various central sites and facilities: Malcha mall, Teddy Soccer stadium, Jerusalem basketball arena, Jerusalem Biblical Zoo, Beth Halochem - rehabilitation and society center hospital, Ein Yael museum, Malch technological park and more.
The old neighborhood is considered a conservation construction area while some private houses in the south facing a spectacular view and combine the old Arab construction with modern additions.
In 1990 in the process of expanding the building construction in Jerusalem, the architect Moshe Safdie planned the new part of Malcha neighborhood. New Malcha was built right by the old neighborhood and the streets were named after animals since the Jerusalem Zoo is nearby.
The Hebrew name that was given to the neighborhood is Minchat. It was named after a biblical town that was in the area but this name is not used widely.
The neighborhood keeps a somewhat low buildings height, various cottages, private houses, luxury apartments and some villas with swimming pools as well.
The new part of Malcha provided a good solution for some residents who wished to stay in the western part of Jerusalem and still arrive to the center of the city in ten minutes.
The population includes architects, doctors, lawyers and businessmen. The residents of Malcha enjoy a new roads system and easy accessibility to Begin road, which crosses the city, and to the exit from the city.
About ten years ago a new train rout between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv was opened and the central train station in Jerusalem is located in Malcha. This fact, in addition to the various sites and facilities, places Malcha as a prestigious neighborhood with an increasing real estate demand.
