Five protesters were arrested in an Asra Kadisha protest on Wednesday morning the 5th of Marcheshvan on Abba Eban Street in the Mishkenos Ha’uma area of Yerushalayim. The protest was against digging Jewish kevarim in that area, Asra Kadisha reports. Construction workers summoned police and they instructed the protesters to leave since their actions were illegal, pointing out they were on private property. When the refused to comply with police, four protesters were taken into custody.

The construction complex is connected to the Foreign Ministry and as the digging was taking place a burial cave was discovered. A court ruled that they may open the cave. They consulted towards doing the correct thing halachically and were given two options, to protect the cave and enclose it in the building’s basement or to destroy it in line with the court ruling. Asra Kadisha believes they plan to destroy it, pointing out it dates back to Bayis Sheni.

The project manager told Kikar Shabbos they are involved in a restoration project which will include preserving the cave, denying there are any plans to destroy the cave. He added 2 million NIS is being spent to preserve the site.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)