[VIDEO IN EXTENDED ARTICLE]

The Cabinet on Wednesday 28 Iyar, Yom Yerushalayim, held a special session during which a number of significant decisions were made. Included in those decisions are;

* A decision to rebuild the Tiferes Yisrael Shul in the Jewish Quarter of the Old City, which alongside the Churva Shul, one of the two magnificent shuls in the Old City skyline as was reported earlier by YWN-ISRAEL. Both shuls were destroyed during the fighting in the War of Independence. The project will cost 55 million NIS and be spread over 2014-2017.

* A decision to assist in completing the construction of a ‘national archaeological center’ in the museums area in Jerusalem, that will concentrate the activity of the Israel Antiquities Authority and present archaeological research, the restoration labs and the storage facilities for the country’s treasures, the scientific archive and an advanced archaeological library (at a cost of 55 million NIS to be spread over 2014-2017, in addition to NIS 210 to be raised by the IAA from donations).

* A decision to extend the Israel Land Authority (ILA) lease for the Shaare Zedek Medical Center, at no cost, and to allocate additional land to the medical center for medical needs.

* A decision to encourage culture, the arts and recreation in the city and to lease to the municipality – at a symbolic cost – the Beit Hatene facility, which the municipality intends to turn into a center for culture, arts, tourism and the media, and to work towards approving an ILA decision to allocate land for a municipal swimming pool.

* A decision to encourage international productions in Jerusalem as part of an understanding the influence and importance of television and cinema and their contribution toward improving the positive image of Jerusalem as a living, flourishing and prosperous city. The government will allocate an additional 31 NIS to this end, to be spread over 2014-2016, with the overall ‘Merom Plan’ budget standing at 333 million NIS.

* A decision to mint a Churva Shul gold coin in the ‘Jerusalem of Gold’ bullion series.

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said “Jerusalem was unified 47 years ago and it will never be re-divided. Since that day, Jerusalem has developed; it is prosperous and flourishing. We meet here every year in order to ensure that this prosperity will be even greater, that the construction will be even broader and that it will flourish even more. Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat will brief us on actions to restore, revitalize and develop the city in general and the Old City in particular. We are committed to a rebuilt, greater and developing Jerusalem as a historical mandate of the Jewish People. I have heard that there are those who would like to cancel today as a national holiday. I say that this is not just a national holiday; this is a historic, national miracle. The Jewish People will always see to the rebuilt and greater Jerusalem.”

PM Netanyahu at the Ammunition Hill Museum:

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)