Speaking with Kol Chai Radio, Deputy Minister of Health R’ Yaakov Litzman made his position quite clear, and the matter of building the new fortified wing of Ashkelon Hospital on the originally planned site, the location of ancient graves, is a non-starter. He drove the point home by explaining that if left with no other alternative he will resign but he will not approve the construction at that site.

R’ Litzman explains that the approval given by the Chief Rabbinate of Israel, endorsing the position of Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar Shlita no longer applies and there can be no justification for disturbing the kevarim when there is another viable solution.

Litzman is the deputy minister with ministerial authority but in actuality, the health minister is Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, who has the authority to overrule Litzman, an act that would undoubtedly lead to a coalition crisis with Yahadut HaTorah.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)