The Tourist Ministry is trying to hinder a project for the Kineret circle path which is set to attract numerous Israeli and foreign tourists, arguing that it may damage sites sacred to Christianity.
In recent years more and more beaches were taken from the public or closed by private entrepreneurs. The response to this was to build the Galilee circle path, aimed at giving the lake back to the public and enabling tourists to tour its entire length without interruption. In recent days the plan was approved by the relevant ministerial committees.
Such paths are common throughout the world and serve as popular tourist attractions, such examples include California’s coastal road, Lakeshore Drive in Lake Tahoe, and the Lake Superior circle route in Ontario, Canada. Yet in Israel, as it has now become apparent, the Tourist Ministry is opposing the path and it has appealed to the government to revoke its decision to approve parts of the plan.
The Tourist Ministry’s argument is that the initial phase of the Lake Galilee circle road was assigned to the area between the Kfar Nahum National Park and the Arik Bridge, but that same area has been designated to promote Christian Evangelist tourism. The Ministry was contacted by Christian sources who expressed their concern that the path would damage the sites sacred to Christianity.
Nir Papai, the Society for the Protection of Nature’s sea and shore preservation coordinator, said Monday that “it’s a shame that while an opportunity has been presented and numerous business enterprises are expressing an interest in the path, it is the Tourist Ministry hindering the process.”
Sources at the Tourist Ministry said that the Ministry does not oppose the Galilee circle path. “The appeal was filed to assure that the areas sacred to Christianity are not damaged and that the interests of the area’s cultural-tourism and its religious Christian heritage are preserved.”
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6 Responses
The tourism ministry has been trying to close a deal with Pat Robertson for his group to build a large Christian-themed park on the shores of the Kinneret. I’m sure that plays a large part in their decision to try and block this.
baruch she’akar avodas kochavim me’artzenu
Why do we allow such things in our Holy land. We are required to rid our land of all other Religions not encourage their existance. The only holy sites that we should be concerned with are those that relate to Torah and H”B, there is nothing else in this world that can be called holy.
The zionist government must stop placating the religions of others and expel them and their missionaires from the Holy land of Torah
Torahtotty?
Pehaps you can elighten us & give us the Maar Mekomos for your thoughts.
This should include which Gedolei Rabbonim paskened this.
Thanks.
Y.E. Editor
The opinions I voice are my own. Based on my own learning and the pasukim in Tanach and in Talmud Bavil Avoda Zara on how to cleanse the land of Idolatry. (I know there is a malchoskos on whether christianty is avoda zora or not) my opionion is base on it being avoda zara
In addtion may I continue to point out the seven Noahidte laws and our own tens Commandments, You will have no other G-D but H”B.
Even it it is not avoda zora:
Christian missionaires are a clear and inherent danger to our children, let us remember from Pirkei Avos, each man is resposible for his realm of influence. THis groups as through out the ages seek only to destroy us either spiritualy or physicaly, as much as they may speak otherwise they are NOT our friends. We must do all we can to protect the Neshama’s of Klal Yisrael even at the expense of so called friendships and tourism
editor- ki im ko saasu lahem mizbichosehem titotzu umatzevosehem tishaberu viasherehem tigadeun upsilei elohehem tisrifu boesh. Devarim 7:5 and abed tiabidun es kol hamikomos asher avdu sham hagoyim….vi’ebadtem es shimom min hamokom hahu Devarim 12:2,3 This is brought in Rambam Hil. Aku”m 7:1 as an aseh and writes that in E”Y mitzva lirdof achareha ad shenaavod osah mikul artzenu. Chinuch Mitzva 436 states that this is applicable at all times but that the chiyuv lirdof achrehem li’ovdom is only when yodenu tikifah al ovdeha. He then states that one who does not destroy them when he has a chance bitel aseh zu. I would guess from reading this article that this is a chance to destroy it but money is a greater consideration to the irreligious zionists.