"There is an ongoing undermining of Israeli sovereignty in large sections within the Old City of Jerusalem," according to Knesset Member Gabbai (National Union-National Religious Party). Gabbai, chairman of the legislature's Jerusalem Lobby, was given a walking tour of the Old City by Jewish residents of the Muslim Quarter.
Gabbai said the tour revealed to him the weakness and the willful blindness of the municipality and of the police in enforcing the law in the ancient walled area of the city. The chronic lawbreaking among the city's Arab residents, as cited by their Jewish neighbors, takes the form of illegal construction, large outdoor events held without a license, unauthorized sellers' stands - which are a security and safety danger to the public - as well as the operation of mosque loudspeakers at unusual times and at high volume.
In contrast to its apparent inability to enforce the law against Arab residents of Jerusalem's Old City, MK Gabbai said, the police and municipality have instituted ever more regulations limiting the freedom of movement of many Jews in the city. For example, during the just-ended Muslim holy month of Ramadan, the 800 Jews living in the Muslim Quarter of the Old City were instructed by the Jerusalem police not to leave their homes without prior coordination during the evening hours. This restriction was announced because of the large number of celebrants - including many hostile ones - returning from the Temple Mount each night of the month-long Muslim holiday.
Furthermore, the Ministry of Education has forbidden any school trips, including those with armed escorts, from entering the Muslim Quarter - despite the presence of its 800 Jews. The Jewish residents of the quarter also complained to MK Gabbai about a lack of basic services, such as mail delivery, in their area of the Old City.
For his part, Gabbai promised the Jewish residents of the Muslim Quarter that he would do all in his power to halt the dangerous erosion of Israeli sovereignty in the nation's capital.
Gabbai can be emailed at <egabai@knesset.gov.il>.
Gabbai said the tour revealed to him the weakness and the willful blindness of the municipality and of the police in enforcing the law in the ancient walled area of the city. The chronic lawbreaking among the city's Arab residents, as cited by their Jewish neighbors, takes the form of illegal construction, large outdoor events held without a license, unauthorized sellers' stands - which are a security and safety danger to the public - as well as the operation of mosque loudspeakers at unusual times and at high volume.
In contrast to its apparent inability to enforce the law against Arab residents of Jerusalem's Old City, MK Gabbai said, the police and municipality have instituted ever more regulations limiting the freedom of movement of many Jews in the city. For example, during the just-ended Muslim holy month of Ramadan, the 800 Jews living in the Muslim Quarter of the Old City were instructed by the Jerusalem police not to leave their homes without prior coordination during the evening hours. This restriction was announced because of the large number of celebrants - including many hostile ones - returning from the Temple Mount each night of the month-long Muslim holiday.
Furthermore, the Ministry of Education has forbidden any school trips, including those with armed escorts, from entering the Muslim Quarter - despite the presence of its 800 Jews. The Jewish residents of the quarter also complained to MK Gabbai about a lack of basic services, such as mail delivery, in their area of the Old City.
For his part, Gabbai promised the Jewish residents of the Muslim Quarter that he would do all in his power to halt the dangerous erosion of Israeli sovereignty in the nation's capital.
Gabbai can be emailed at <egabai@knesset.gov.il>.