Committee Chairman MK Amnon Cohen of Shas said he called the meeting in light of the poor condition in which the ancient cemetery is kept, and the failure to implement previous governments' decisions to remedy it.
"This is one of the most sacred and historic sites of the Jewish People," Cohen said, "with graves from the period of the First Temple up until this very day. This place should be a national tourist spot." The cemetery is located on a large area on the Mt. of Olives, directly across the valley from the eastern wall of the Temple Mount.
Rabbi Chaim Miller, a 12th-generation Jerusalemite who chairs a movement promoting the city's unification, told the Committee, "There is no reason why the Mt. of Olives should not be a national site along the lines of Mt. Herzl; our nation's leaders and great people are buried in both."
Even MK Ran Cohen, of the left-wing Meretz/Yachad party, said that the situation on the Mt. of Olives is a "disgrace and a desecration of the honor of both the dead and the living." He said that two elements are missing to remedy the problem: a body to organize the work and take responsibility for it, and a budget.
Natan Sharansky, Minister for Jerusalem and Diaspora Affairs, linked together his two areas of responsibility by saying, "It's inconceivable that while we warn against the deteriorating situation of Jewish cemeteries in the Diaspora, we do nothing about the Mt. of Olives. it is not only a cemetery, but a historic, spiritual and cultural site – a matter of national interest that requires financial investment."
State Comptroller Eliezer Goldberg proposed that a "realistic" approach be taken, differentiating between issues that can be solved, such as better security for visitors, and those that need long-range treatment.
Ilan Cohen, Director of Prime Minister Sharon's Bureau, said that following the Cabinet decision of this past Oct. 31, an inter-departmental government staff was established. Its mission is to track down those with an interest in the Mt. of Olives, and to map out a comprehensive plan to rehabilitate the site. The plan will include timetables and budgetary proposals, and the staff must report on its progress to the Knesset Committee within a month.
Chairman Cohen said that his committee will continue to track the progress made on restoring the Mt. of Olives cemetery to its rightful place.
"This is one of the most sacred and historic sites of the Jewish People," Cohen said, "with graves from the period of the First Temple up until this very day. This place should be a national tourist spot." The cemetery is located on a large area on the Mt. of Olives, directly across the valley from the eastern wall of the Temple Mount.
Rabbi Chaim Miller, a 12th-generation Jerusalemite who chairs a movement promoting the city's unification, told the Committee, "There is no reason why the Mt. of Olives should not be a national site along the lines of Mt. Herzl; our nation's leaders and great people are buried in both."
Even MK Ran Cohen, of the left-wing Meretz/Yachad party, said that the situation on the Mt. of Olives is a "disgrace and a desecration of the honor of both the dead and the living." He said that two elements are missing to remedy the problem: a body to organize the work and take responsibility for it, and a budget.
Natan Sharansky, Minister for Jerusalem and Diaspora Affairs, linked together his two areas of responsibility by saying, "It's inconceivable that while we warn against the deteriorating situation of Jewish cemeteries in the Diaspora, we do nothing about the Mt. of Olives. it is not only a cemetery, but a historic, spiritual and cultural site – a matter of national interest that requires financial investment."
State Comptroller Eliezer Goldberg proposed that a "realistic" approach be taken, differentiating between issues that can be solved, such as better security for visitors, and those that need long-range treatment.
Ilan Cohen, Director of Prime Minister Sharon's Bureau, said that following the Cabinet decision of this past Oct. 31, an inter-departmental government staff was established. Its mission is to track down those with an interest in the Mt. of Olives, and to map out a comprehensive plan to rehabilitate the site. The plan will include timetables and budgetary proposals, and the staff must report on its progress to the Knesset Committee within a month.
Chairman Cohen said that his committee will continue to track the progress made on restoring the Mt. of Olives cemetery to its rightful place.