Yeshiva World News

Deputy Health Minister R’ Yaakov Litzman, who succeeded in obtaining a cabinet majority for the position of daas Torah is not making excuses, but he is going on the offensive, explaining his opponents are only angered since in this case, the man in charge is chareidi.

Speaking to the media following the cabinet decision approving a new venue for the fortified emergency room for Barzilai Hospital, Litzman rejects allegations that the move endangers human life. Defending his position, he explained that the previous Olmert administration reached the same decision, and at that time, the opponents remained silent, but today, with a chareidi official at the helm, the opponents are suddenly voicing their position.

Regarding recent statements from Israel Antiquities Authority officials that in all likelihood the kevarim are not of Jews, Litzman told the press that “It is interesting” since he has a protocol (minutes) from a meeting which took place about six months ago in which IAA officials explain they did not open the kevarim since they cannot establish the bones are not those of Jews.

Litzman’s plan to move the new fortified wing of Barzilai Hospital passed the cabinet, with ministers of the secular Yisrael Beitenu party as well.

Dr. Eitan Chai-Am, the director-general of the Health Ministry does not concur, and he insists the distance to the building is 400 meters, not 150 meters as Litzman claims. He is adamant that the new plan endangers lives and as such, he submitted his resignation following the cabinet’s decision to approve the Litzman plan. The plan passed in cabinet in a 11-10 vote. Chai-Am warns the Litzman plan will have dire consequences.

Voting in favor were: PM Netanyahu, FM Lieberman, Sofia Landver, Eli Yishai, Ariel Atias, Yaakov Margi, Meshulam Nahari, Yisrael Katz, Benny Begin, and Daniel Hershkowitz.

Opposed: DM Ehud Barak, Avishai Braverman, Shalom Simchon, Yitzchak Herzog, Yuli Edelstein, Yossi Peled, Michael Eitan, Dan Meridor, Gideon Saar and Limor Livnat.

Minister Hershkowitz told Galei Tzahal (Army Radio) on Monday morning that it is understood by cabinet members that if during the upcoming month it is learned the bones are not those of Jews, the plan will come before the cabinet again for reconsideration.

MORE EXPENSIVE – LESS BEDS

Opponents explain the alternative plan that was approved is simply unacceptable, costing much more, an additional NIS 135 million, and resulting in far fewer beds.

At present, the Barzilai emergency room has 17 beds. The planned underground unit, atop of the kevarim, was to house 250 underground emergency room beds and 50 additional beds above ground, in the fortified unit.

The new plan calls for a total of 50 beds, above ground in a fortified unit, far less than the original plan.

KADIMA UNWILLING TO ACCEPT THE VERDICT

MKs from the Kadima opposition party insist this is simply unacceptable, gathering the required number of signatures to compel a special plenum session to discuss the matter.

DR. EPHRAIM SHACH SHARES HIS OPINION

Dr. Ephraim Shach, a son of the late Rabbi Menachem Man Shach ZT”L spoke with Israel Radio. He was asked “what would your late father have said in this case?”

Dr. Shach, a doctor of history and Jewish philosophy stated there are three possibilities;

1.    I do not know

2.    Bank Leumi – but that was commercial for profit, definitely Jewish graves

3.    Life takes priority

He emphasized his response was of course speculation, despite begin quite familiar with his later father’s methods and decisions. Regarding Bank Leumi, he does not feel the protests that compelled the bank to abandon a building project atop bones are similar since that was strictly a for-profit venture, not an issue of pikuach nefesh.

Dr. Shach stated that he personally does not agree, for he feels this is truly a case of pikuach nefesh. He feels that Maran Rav Yosef Sholom Elyashiv decided based on the information presented to him, but he questions just how the case was presented to the gadol hador. He does not feel that the gadol hador was given the big picture, details of the original plan and the new Litzman plan.

As we go to print, physicians at Barzilai are protesting the revised government plan.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)

Despite A rally to demand freedom of worship for Jews will be held in Yerushalayim on Tuesday evening at which time participants will question why of late, Jews are banned from Har Habayis.

The event is slated to get underway on King George Street in the plaza in front of the Mashbir Department Store under the banner “The Time for Our Freedom Has Arrived”.

Har Habayis activists explain that while the Supreme Court has ruled in favor of Jews wishing to daven on the Holy Site, police are empowered to override the ruling based on ‘security consideration’ and activists view such a move as giving in to Arab terror.

Organizers are calling on participants to bring sheep to symbolize the upcoming yomtov of Pesach.

It must be noted, that when YWN Israel reported this past Sukkos about President Shimon Peres’ historic visit to Maran Hagon Rav Elyashiv Shlita, the Posek Hador called on the president to prevent Jews from visiting Har HaBayis, stating it is an act that that is viewed as extremely provocative by the goyim. Maran stated everything possible must be done to avoid a religious war, and the provocateurs are playing with fire.

Maran was quoted as explaining to the president that halacha forbids going onto Har HaBayis but today, it is more than this, it is an act that may lead to a religious war and bloodshed.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)

A Modi’in man turned over a bag to police, a bag that he found containing money worth close to NIS 1 million. Police have been working since Sunday, trying to track down the owner of the case.

The man explains he waited a bit to see if the owner would return and when he didn’t; he took the case home, opening it and finding a large sum in foreign currency. He counted it and it amounted to close to NIS 1 million. He turned the case over to police, who are seeking the owner as well as simultaneously checking to see if the money was stolen from somewhere/someone.

Police add that another likelihood is that someone withdrew a large sum from a bank and then transferred to foreign currency. Officials add that if the money is not legal, it is unlikely that the owner will be stepping forward anytime soon.

Police add that if the money is clean and unclaimed for 90 days, the finder will become the legal owner.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)

Only a few short hours before his scheduled departure for Washington to address an AIPAC (The American Israel Public Affairs Committee) conference, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu received an official invitation to the White House, signaling a resumption of relations following the Ramat Shlomo diplomatic row. It would appear the prime minister’s concessions to the White House did the trick, ending the diplomatic fallout, as was reported earlier Sunday by YWN-Israel. At present, it appears the prime minister will be meeting with President Barak Obama on Tuesday.

Upon his arrival in Jerusalem, White House Mideast envoy George Mitchell delivered the invitation personally.

Preliminary scheduling changes may including cancelling a planned visit to Belgium, where he was expecting to meet with senior leaders, in exchange for meeting with policy makers on Capitol Hill.

The prime minister will be accompanied on his N. American trip by Defense Minister Ehud Barak, Minister of National Infrastructure Dr. Uzi Landau and opposition leader Tzipi Livni, who will be accompanying him at the AIPAC event.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)

Deputy Minister (Yahadut HaTorah) R’ Meir Porush sent a letter to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman condemning the arrival on shabbos of UN Secretary-General Ban ki-Moon, explaining the arrival of the senior official undoubtedly required much chilul shabbos on the part of security personnel.

R’ Porush points out that in addition to exhibiting a lack of sensitivity to a large community in Israel, the move paints Israel in a bad light among nations who realize who we lack any respect towards safeguarding our national values.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)