The Hiddush NGO, which has ties to the Reform Movement, has recently filed against the Jerusalem Municipality to have the eruv polls installed in recent years in the city removed.

In the petition, the association asks the municipality to establish an outline plan for the construction of erev lines, which will be built according to the needs of the residents and by law. It also demands that orderly instructions be given to erect such columns.

The petition was filed following residents’ complaints and continued extensive coverage by MyNet and Yediot Jerusalem regarding the struggle between secular and chareidi residents surrounding the eruv poles.

Among the demands raised by the association before the municipality, it is possible to determine the publication of an orderly plan regarding eruv lines, “including determining their location, the procedures for their establishment, the public’s participation in these procedures and the establishment of safety and control requirements.”

The organization also asks the High Court of Justice to demand answers from the Israel Police as well, “Why you will not investigate and prosecute those who have illegally set up interlocking lines or columns, and why you will not deal with any legal complaint about the illegal construction of the eruv, except for those cases in which petitioners established evidence that they were authorized to act on behalf of the Jerusalem Municipality or were given permission to establish them lawfully, “it says.

“Jerusalem is a rich and diverse city and has different publics,” said attorney Sagi Agmon, who filed the petition together with attorney Uri Regev. “The municipality is the one that should maintain the delicate balance between freedom of religion and freedom from religion, so that the rights of all the residents of the city will be preserved.” The picture that has appeared to us is very disturbing – more than 20 cases in recent months where chareidi elements have established eruv lines in non chareidi areas,” he said.

Attorney Agmon also claims that dozens of complaints filed by residents with the authorities have allegedly been ignored.

The municipality responded by saying that “The petition has been received in the last few days, and we are working on the issue of eruv according to the law and according to municipal authorities. We will respond to the court after the documents have been studied.”

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)