Jerusalem – Mayor Nir Barkat’s plan to allow a public parking lot in the city to remain open during Shabbat was postponed by a week, due to fears of demonstrations by ultra-Orthodox, a municipal spokesperson said today.
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According to the statement, the mayor decided to postpone the move until next weekend, following a specific request by the police, which feared its forces would be spread too thin in the even of protests during an already busy holiday.
Ultra-Orthodox sources in the capital, however, told Haaretz the postponement was due to talks between the mayor and community leaders, who required more time to “look into the decision.”
The plan was first announced at the Jerusalem council meeting earlier this week.
It wasn’t opposed by the ultra-Orthodox council members present, after Barkat agreed to their conditions; this included limiting the number of parking lots operating on Shabbat to one, making it free of charge and having it managed by non-Jewish workers.
However, the decision also drew threats of protests from Edah HaChareidis, a particularly strict strand of ultra-Orthodox Judaism not represented at city hall.
In recent days, posters proclaiming “a great battle” against the opening were seen around ultra-Orthodox neighborhoods.
The ultra-Orthodox members of the council were denounced in the Edah HaChareidis newspaper as destructive and corrupt, leading council member Shlomo Rozenstein (United Torah Judaism) to deny his caucus had agreed to the opening of the parking lot
“We have never agreed and never will agree to that,” he said. “The only real question is how great a crisis we are heading for.
“As soon as the demands to lessen the damage to the Shabbat were accepted,” he continued, “we decided – unlike Edah HaChareidis – that there was no reason to launch an all-out war. The question is whether or not we go to war [at all].”
Edah HaChareidis is an irresponsible bunch of zealots who commit violence and destroy property in the name of yiddeshkeit. It is legal for yidden and goiyem to drive in Yerushalayim on shabbos,whether they like it or not. I choose not to drive but that doesn’t give me the right to tell others what to do. If they engage in violence, destroy property or othewise violate the law, they should enjoy spending shabbos in jail. I’m told they have a wonderful tzimmes in the municipal detention facility in Yerushalayim.
Kiddushas shabbos is about boycotting El Al and then voting for the Mechalel Shabbos mayor of Jerusalem all because someone beat you at your own game with chinuch atzmaee. In short, kedushas shabbos IS all about the money. It is a befairesha maasei hagedolim rachmono litzlon.
For a large percentage of Israelis, using a car is their only way to get around and whether we like it or not, driving on shabbos is not going to stop because the hareidim find it objectionable.
Thank You GER for giving us Barkat!!!!
I think they should use gerrer chasidim to run the parking lot on shabbos.Like that the rebbe will be able to say he got his chasidim jobs
“Thank You GER for giving us Barkat!!!!”
Vat are you talking about? The Gerrer Chasidim are part of Agudah…it was that dirty backroom deal between the Belzer and Bobover that resulted in Barkat winning the election. The Gerrer were totally faultless and you should not blame these ehrleche yidden for this tragedy.
this is shameful and besides is torah RIGHT when it says that saturday is the only day off what about going shopping?
They do not support the medina but they want to run it. pay some taxes.
Very true, if it weren’t for the Gerrer Rebbe this may not have happened.
whats the big deal if the parking lot is open. what are you hashems policeman???
Whats Wrong With All You Guys Dont You Feel Any Pain Or Sadnes When You See JewS Stepping On Our Holy Shabbos In Public How Cold Can You Be. . . Dont Be Such PoliticLy Correct Americanesh Pizza Heads
The Eidah only plays offense.
They own this right because they were the true chalutzim who settled yerushalyim
The noch shleppers only came when the going was good or better than Europe.
The noch noch shleppers came when it was better than the USA
The have earned their right as the Defenders of the Faith.
Cheilchom LeOiraisah
just another day
It wasn’t opposed by the ultra-Orthodox
These arrangements should not be forced on the general population,”
However, the decision also drew threats of protests from Edah HaChareidis, a particularly strict strand of ultra-Orthodox Judaism not represented at city hall
“Thank You GER for giving us Barkat!!!!”
Vat are you talking about? The Gerrer Chasidim are part of Agudah…it was that dirty backroom deal between the Belzer and Bobover that resulted in Barkat winning the election. The Gerrer were totally faultless and you should not blame these ehrleche yidden for this tragedy.
you’re all crazy. the rebbes don’t have enough political clout to alter mayoral elections. get real. the hareidim have been making trouble for decades because they lack the sensitivity towards their fellow jews that is necessary for dealing with challenging and sensitive issues.
Why blame BARKAT? Everyone knew he is a mechallel mShabbos. The real culprit is the Rebbe who pushed him in!