Police are urging motorists who do not have to be on Highway 1 (Jerusalem – Tel Aviv Highway) this week to avoid doing so, admitting there will be many delays as a result of heavy security surrounding the papal visit and the heavy traffic to and from Meron on Lag B’Omer. The major alternate road would be Highway 443, the Jerusalem-Modi’in Highway.

Pope Benedict XVI is scheduled to arrive in Ben-Gurion International Airport on Monday at 11:00am. He will travel to Jerusalem by chopper, scheduled to take part in an official welcoming ceremony on Mount Scopus in the presence of Mayor Nir Barkat. Major street closings in the Mt. Scopus area.

A senior welcoming ceremony will be held in the President’s Residence at 4:00pm, followed by a visit to Yad Vashem (5:30pm), and a meeting with religious leaders at 7:00pm. Major roadways in the capital will be closed as the papal motorcade makes its way through the city.

On Tuesday, the pontiff will visit Har HaBayis, the Kosel, and meet with Kosel Rav Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz Shlita. He will also visit Catholic sites in the Old City. Many roadways in the Old City will be closed to accommodate the VIP visit between the hours of 11:00am-4:00pm.

On Wednesday, he will hold mass in PA-occupied Bet Lechem, and meet at 6:00pm with PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen). Roads leading to Bet Lechem will be closed as well as roads in the area of Mount Scopus and other areas.

On Thursday, A Nazareth mass will be held at 10:00am, and a meeting with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu at 3:30pm followed by another major mass at 5:30pm.

Friday includes a visit with Armenian officials and departure at 1:30pm.

This coupled with Monday afternoon traffic heading north to Meron, and the return traffic which will continue through the night Monday and throughout Tuesday, is expected to occupy some 80,000 members of security forces, paid and volunteer members alike.

Israel Police is operating an information line during the visit, 1-700-50-20-30 (06:30-22:30) and the Jerusalem website will be updated at well www.jerusalem.muni.il .

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)