The restrictions also are aimed at easing traffic jams, especially during the tourist season and the week of the Passover and Succoth (Feast of Tabernacles) holidays.
Pollution has left layers of black soot on stones throughout the Old City and has become worse with the increased popularity of vehicles that run on diesel fuel. However, public vehicles, many of which use diesel, will be allowed to enter the Old City as will vehicles driven by handicapped people.
Non-residents will be banned from 9:00am to 6:00pm. Residents of the Old City will receive special identity tags which will allow them to enter.
The city will increase the number of buses and add bus lines to the area. Officials are also investigating the possibility of operating horse-drawn carriages from the city hall area on Jaffa Road to the Old City and to the Western Wall plaza.
"We have reached an intolerable situation in which we see the beauty of the city destroyed before our eyes," said Jerusalem Mayor Uri Lupolianski. "Historical sites that have stood for 3,000 years against natural disasters and earthquakes can not be allowed to be damaged by humans."
He said the objective of the plan is to allow thousands of visitors to the Old City to walk freely and not be exposed to noise, pollution and crowded alleys.
Pollution has left layers of black soot on stones throughout the Old City and has become worse with the increased popularity of vehicles that run on diesel fuel. However, public vehicles, many of which use diesel, will be allowed to enter the Old City as will vehicles driven by handicapped people.
Non-residents will be banned from 9:00am to 6:00pm. Residents of the Old City will receive special identity tags which will allow them to enter.
The city will increase the number of buses and add bus lines to the area. Officials are also investigating the possibility of operating horse-drawn carriages from the city hall area on Jaffa Road to the Old City and to the Western Wall plaza.
"We have reached an intolerable situation in which we see the beauty of the city destroyed before our eyes," said Jerusalem Mayor Uri Lupolianski. "Historical sites that have stood for 3,000 years against natural disasters and earthquakes can not be allowed to be damaged by humans."
He said the objective of the plan is to allow thousands of visitors to the Old City to walk freely and not be exposed to noise, pollution and crowded alleys.