The recently concluded coalition agreement between Likud and Shas and United Torah Judaism (UTJ) for the first time includes a provision for increased government funding for stepped-up security on Har Hazeisim. The religious parties fulfilled a promise made earlier this month to Avraham Lubinsky, chairman of the International Committee for Har Hazeisim (ICHH) during his recent whirlwind trip to Yerushalayim. Mr. Lubinsky and ICHH officials met with Rabbi Yitzchak Goldknopf (UTJ), who is slated to head the Ministry of Housing and Development, which is responsible for security on Har Hazeisim. ICHH also met with Shas leaders Rabbis Michael Michaeli and Yoav ben Zur who reiterated their long-standing commitment to improved security on the 3,000-year-old cemetery.
The new Likud-UTJ coalition clause for security on Har Hazeisim reads: “Har Hazeisim is under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Housing and Development. To counter an increase in vandalism, the government pledges to intensify security measures through the Ministry as part of a specially designated budget that will be allocated in advance.”
ICHH has been responsible for the improved security on the hallowed mountain since its founding nearly 13 years ago. These security measures included the installation of 176 surveillance cameras, a police station, gating, sanitation and rehabilitation of the infra-structure. These measures have significantly increased the number of visitors to Har Hazeisim . Police officials estimate that the average number of daily visitors has risen from less than 400 nearly five years ago to well over 2000 today. Tens of thousands ascend to Har Hazeisim on the yahrzeits of the Ohr Hachaim, the Rebbes of Zhvill, the Rebbes of Gur and others. A growing number of visitors visit the various kevarim of the leading sages over the generations, the burial place of the Nevi’im, the site where the ashes of the parah adumah were placed and other historic places associated with the period of the Bais Hamikdash.
In a statement, ICHH praised the religious parties, “for making the security of Har Hazeisim part and parcel of the coalition agreement. It is even more encouraging that both parties will have significant roles in various ministries to assure that the government carries out its pledge in the coalition agreements.”
