In light of recent attacks against mispallalim and increasing cases of vandalism in which kevarim are damaged and destroyed, the Ministry of Religious Services announced on Tuesday, 6 Tammuz, that it is doubling the Har HaZeisim security budget. It is explained that increasing the security budget for Har HaZeisim is a part of the coalition agreement signed with Shas.

Minister of Religious Services (Shas) David Azoulai visited Har HaZeisim on Tuesday, accompanied by many officials. He explained to reporters accompanying him “We are going to double the security budget in an effort to bring an end to the attacks. There are 5,000 vacant plots but no one wishes to bury their loved ones here due to the chilul kevarim and the security risks involved with visiting”.

Accompanying the minister were representatives of the chevra kadisha and members of families whose loved ones are buried in the beis hachaim.

Ministry Director-General Oded Flus told the press “In addition to the questions pertaining to sovereignty in areas of Yerushalayim, and the matter of residents being able to move about in security, the matter of using the 5,000 vacant plots results in a significant economic loss as many are unwilling to bury anyone on Har HaZeisim…Why is there a public outcry if a cemetery is vandalized but here this is not so? Here the damage is a regular occurrence and attacks pass without response. We plan to do our utmost to combat the attack and to bring an end to this intolerable situation”.

Officials report there are currently over 100,000 kevarim on Har HaZeisim from different periods in Jewish history. Kvura began during the period of Bayis Rishon and Sheni, using burial caves scattered in the area. Azoulai added “There are many tzaddikim and holy people among the kevarim and if a similar situation was occurring in Europe there would be an outcry”, promising to make securing the area a major priority for his office.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem / Photos: Ministry of Religious Services)