Arutz 7’s Haggai Seri-Levi reports that the Interior Committee heard reports from representatives of the Chevra Kadisha (Jewish Burial Service), Jerusalem municipality and the Organization for the Development of Eastern Jerusalem describing acts of vandalism, licentious gatherings, drug usage and dealing, as well as an increasing volume of garbage being dumped by local Arabs.
The representatives presented photographs of anti-Jewish slogans and symbols – including insignias of various terror gangs – that have been graffitied throughout the ancient Jewish gravesite. They also relayed testimony from mourners at funeral processions who have been targeted by Arab stone-throwers in the area.
MK Nissan Slomiansky (NRP), who requested the special session, couldn’t believe the lack of public outcry at the ongoing desecration. “Just two weeks ago the whole country was shocked by the desecration of graves in Toulouse, France,” he exclaimed. “The French President and Prime Minister condemned the acts, apologized, and are paying for the repairs. We are quick to cry out when this happens elsewhere, but look what is happening here – in our own country – on Har HaZeitim. God Almighty. Where is the Prime Minister? Where is the President?”
MK Yitzchak Cohen (Shas), another backer of the legislation, said, “This is all a direct outcome of the government’s policies. The sickness is called ‘disengagement’ – they have decided to withdraw from everything Jewish. There is an immense disrespect displayed on the part of the government.” Cohen went on to the condemn the government, saying that the disrespect for Jewish tradition and holy sites “began with the Sabbath and will end with the Land of Israel.” Cohen attributes the situation on Har HaZeitim to the dismantling of the Ministry of Religious Affairs.
During the Committee meeting it became clear that a major factor leading to the problematic area was the lack of a single party responsible for Har HaZeitim. Until a year and a half ago the Ministry of Religious Affairs was responsible – but when it was dismantled, responsibility was transferred to the Housing Ministry. Even when the Religious Ministry was in charge, however, there was never one body responsible for the site with the ability to ensure proper upkeep, development and security. Many smaller organizations sprouted up – taking responsibility for specific plots and areas of the massive burial site.
Aryeh King, who lives opposite Har HaZeitim told the Committee “that if the responsible bodies were doing what was needed to be done, the situation would improve wondrously.” King points an accusatory finger at the Jerusalem municipality, whose responsibility it is to enforce illegal dumping and graffiti laws “exactly as it would if it took place on Jaffa Road in the city center.” King says he has brought students from the Bnai Akiva youth group to do the cleanup work the city is supposed to be doing, but the problem recurs almost immediately.
King succeeded in thoroughly shocking committee members when he described the illegal building of Arab structures taking place above Jewish graves. He claims that pictures from the eighties show graves that have now disappeared – with Arab buildings in their place. “Whoever built there somehow received permission from the municipality to hook up to the water and electrical grid.” King asks, “How can this be?”
The Committee’s decision stated, “The Committee is outraged by the utter abandonment of one of the most ancient Jewish burial sites in the world, on Har HaZeitim, based on the testimony we have heard and the alarming pictures we have seen.”
The representatives presented photographs of anti-Jewish slogans and symbols – including insignias of various terror gangs – that have been graffitied throughout the ancient Jewish gravesite. They also relayed testimony from mourners at funeral processions who have been targeted by Arab stone-throwers in the area.
MK Nissan Slomiansky (NRP), who requested the special session, couldn’t believe the lack of public outcry at the ongoing desecration. “Just two weeks ago the whole country was shocked by the desecration of graves in Toulouse, France,” he exclaimed. “The French President and Prime Minister condemned the acts, apologized, and are paying for the repairs. We are quick to cry out when this happens elsewhere, but look what is happening here – in our own country – on Har HaZeitim. God Almighty. Where is the Prime Minister? Where is the President?”
MK Yitzchak Cohen (Shas), another backer of the legislation, said, “This is all a direct outcome of the government’s policies. The sickness is called ‘disengagement’ – they have decided to withdraw from everything Jewish. There is an immense disrespect displayed on the part of the government.” Cohen went on to the condemn the government, saying that the disrespect for Jewish tradition and holy sites “began with the Sabbath and will end with the Land of Israel.” Cohen attributes the situation on Har HaZeitim to the dismantling of the Ministry of Religious Affairs.
During the Committee meeting it became clear that a major factor leading to the problematic area was the lack of a single party responsible for Har HaZeitim. Until a year and a half ago the Ministry of Religious Affairs was responsible – but when it was dismantled, responsibility was transferred to the Housing Ministry. Even when the Religious Ministry was in charge, however, there was never one body responsible for the site with the ability to ensure proper upkeep, development and security. Many smaller organizations sprouted up – taking responsibility for specific plots and areas of the massive burial site.
Aryeh King, who lives opposite Har HaZeitim told the Committee “that if the responsible bodies were doing what was needed to be done, the situation would improve wondrously.” King points an accusatory finger at the Jerusalem municipality, whose responsibility it is to enforce illegal dumping and graffiti laws “exactly as it would if it took place on Jaffa Road in the city center.” King says he has brought students from the Bnai Akiva youth group to do the cleanup work the city is supposed to be doing, but the problem recurs almost immediately.
King succeeded in thoroughly shocking committee members when he described the illegal building of Arab structures taking place above Jewish graves. He claims that pictures from the eighties show graves that have now disappeared – with Arab buildings in their place. “Whoever built there somehow received permission from the municipality to hook up to the water and electrical grid.” King asks, “How can this be?”
The Committee’s decision stated, “The Committee is outraged by the utter abandonment of one of the most ancient Jewish burial sites in the world, on Har HaZeitim, based on the testimony we have heard and the alarming pictures we have seen.”