The International Committee for the Preservation of Har HaZeisim made public a letter sent to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu focused on the state of the Har HaZeisim Beis HaChayim, imploring him to further secure access to the ancient cemetery. The burial site is the oldest and largest Jewish cemetery in the world – consisting of 150,000 graves and in continuous use for 3,000 years – where many Biblical as well as modern-day Israeli notables have been laid to rest.
The communication commends the prime minister for the great strides made by his government to secure and protect the ancient Jewish cemetery – which has increasingly come under attack in recent years with continuous violence against visitors, rampant grave desecrations, dumping of refuse and gross defilement of the cemetery by local Arab youths – but the letter also outlines the remaining actions necessary to sustainably safeguard the expansive burial ground.
The letter was signed by the leadership of the Rabbinical Council of America, National Council of Young Israel, Agudas Yisrael of America and the Orthodox Union as well as Executive Vice Chairman Malcolm Hoenlein on behalf of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, who is also an active leader of the ICPHH. Mr. Hoenlein personally delivered the letter to the Prime Minister during his organization’s recent mission to Israel.
The Jewish organizations note the marked security improvements initiated by the Prime Minister’s Office and implemented through the Jerusalem Development Authority, such as the installation of security cameras and the establishment of a permanent Police presence which has led to a sharp rise in the number of arrests of violent perpetrators at the Mount of Olives Cemetery.
Yet the letter also details the ongoing violence directed towards cemetery visitors along access roads and requests that Netanyahu fully complete security camera installation and the deployment of Police within a wider radius. In addition, the International Committee asks that the Prime Minister support Knesset legislation which includes significant punishment for minors committing cemetery-related offences as well as mandating stiff punishment to address attacks carried out in cemetery perimeter areas, which are directed at visitors to intimidate and/or cause direct bodily harm.
“The International Committee for the Preservation of Har HaZeisim is committed to returning safety and sanctity to Har HaZeisim,” said American businessman and ICPHH Chairman Abraham Lubinsky. “Even after our imperatives are met and all are free to visit their departed in peace in an appropriate environment befitting this immensely important Jewish cemetery, we will continue to watch over the hallowed ground to assure that violence and vandalism never again plague this place. Only then will generations of Jews buried on Har HaZeisim truly be able to find eternal rest.”
A primary focus of the organization, Mr. Lubinsky added, is to end the “perception of fear” amongst Jews worldwide and to significantly increase tourism to Judaism’s second holiest site.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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One Response
As seen from elections and negociations, Netanyahu is not a strong force as leader in the government. Perhaps best to appeal to Sara Netanyahu….or wait to rally the new ‘shakers & bakers’ in the coalition.