Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has made only his second visit to eastern Jerusalem since being elected over 18 months ago. He took part today in the dedication ceremony of the new Rehavam Ze'evi Promenade, leading from the Intercontinental Hotel on the Mt. of Olives towards the Old City. The promenade includes three observation points providing impressive views of the Temple Mount and vicinity. Standing at one of them, only dozens of meters from the Temple Mount, Sharon said, "No one is more fitting to be memorialized by this observation point, where the entire Old City of Jerusalem is laid out before us, than Rehavam Ze'evi." Ze'evi, Tourism Minister in the Sharon government and a high-ranking IDF officer in the reserves, was murdered by Palestinian terrorists in October 2001.
Sharon's last visit to the area was shortly after his election in February 2001, when he prayed at the Western Wall. The General Security Service, responsible for protecting him, has since then not allowed him to enter even his home in the Moslem Quarter of the Old City. Today's visit was secured by hundreds of policemen, and only a small group of journalists was permitted to cover the event.
Sharon's last visit to the area was shortly after his election in February 2001, when he prayed at the Western Wall. The General Security Service, responsible for protecting him, has since then not allowed him to enter even his home in the Moslem Quarter of the Old City. Today's visit was secured by hundreds of policemen, and only a small group of journalists was permitted to cover the event.