The Jerusalem Allocations Committee met earlier this week and a decision was made to allocate a building in the city to accommodate four NGOs to the tune of NIS 50 million. The building will be in the center of the city and it will be used for cultural events.

Councilman Aryeh King raised objections to the allocations, explaining today the area is used as a parking lot near the Gerald Bachar Center and he does not want the building given to the NGOs without a guarantee from them they will not host chilul Shabbos cultural events, citing the building in question is a municipal building, justifying his demands.

King’s objections were overruled and the allocation was approved. It is pointed out the allocation is unique, stating it is for a 25-year period with an option for 20 additional years.

It is noted that chareidi Councilmen Yitzchak Pindrus, Ruchberger, and Weizman voted with King while Shas and others were not present to use their political weight to block the allocation.

King explains it is not lost yet, for the council is going to convene again on Tuesday, 26 Menachem Av and “those councilmen who love and respect Shabbos can use the opportunity to demand another vote on the allocation”.

It is also pointed out that since the Interior Ministry oversees the Allocations Committee, Interior Minister Aryeh Deri must sign off, perhaps another opportunity to prevent the allocation without a guarantee it will not become another venue for city-sponsored chilul Shabbos.

King admits he is trying to remain cautiously optimistic. It is not the first time that King, who is dati leumi, launches the fight for Kedushas Shabbos in the capital while chareidi councilmen absent themselves from votes for one reason or another.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)