October 4, 2011
Arabs Resume Construction Illegal Construction of Mosque on Har Hazeitim Over Rosh Hashanah; Destroy Newly Restored Tombstones
Jerusalem, Israel—Taking advantage of the “three day” Rosh Hashanah holiday, Arab construction workers resumed construction of an illegal Mosque on Har Hazeitim despite a “Stop Order” by the Jerusalem Municipality. Sources say that construction workers were feverishly finishing the roof and pouring cement as they rush to complete a Mosque that will be only feet from the graves of former Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin and revered Rabbi Tzvi Yehuda Kook . Avrohom Lubinsky, Chairman of the International Committee for the Preservation of Har Hazeitim, blamed city officials “for not fully carrying out the order by destroying the illegal Mosque and sealing the area.” Lubinsky said that construction workers even leveled steps leading to kvarim on Har Hazeitim to provide for easier access for the workers. He added: “We are facing a nightmare that will all but deny Jews access to graves on the holiest and oldest Jewish cemetery in the world.” Committee leaders fear that the Arabs will use the upcoming Yom Kippur and Succoth holidays to complete the structure that will turn Har Hazeitim into a parking lot for worshippers and Arab pedestrian traffic.
A police raid on the site last month came about after months of lobbying by the Committee which resulted in the Municipality issuing a “Stop Order.” But when the construction continued, the Committee alerted the Legal Forum to seek remedies to enforce the Stop Order. The Legal Forum responded by addressing an urgent letter to Mayor Nir Barkat and the Jerusalem Municipality, demanding an immediate enforcement of a court order to halt the illegal activities on the Mount. The response by the Municipality, the seizure of work tools from the site, was a direct response to the Legal Forum and Committees efforts. But the events of Rosh Hashanah clearly illustrated the Municipality’s lack of will to permanently enforce the order.
Also victim of the Rosh Hashanah desecrations was the destruction of graves in the Kolel Polen section of Har Hazeitim, where according to Chevra Kadisha officials, Arabs destroyed graves that were recently restored from the mass destruction of tombstones in late July. Mr. Lubinsky said that it was urgent for officials to install cameras in several sections that include the burial sites of many Americans. “Although some 63 surveillance cameras are functioning, they are far short of the 150 promised and are certainly not installed in areas of importance to many Jews, including the Kollel Polen section.” He also charged that a promised deployment of a police garrison has been slow to be implemented. “We cannot tolerate bureaucratic red tape and delays by government while Arabs commit wanton destruction and illegal construction without delay,” said Lubinsky.
