Minister of Religious Services Yaakov Margi has turned to Defense Minister Ehud Barak towards ensuring arrangements are made to maintain cleanliness and order in the Ma’arat HaMachpelah in Chevron, stating the holy site plays a dominant role to the Jewish People and as such, the site must be treated accordingly.
 
Margi also turned to Justice Minister Prof. Yaakov Ne’eman towards establishing an authority that would oversee cleaning and maintenance at the holy site. He told the minister that it is no secret that visitors to the site are pained when they see the condition of the area, the lack of esthetics on the Jewish side while the Muslim [occupied] area is well maintained.
 
The authority would also ensure the Jewish area is protected and maintained, added Margi, also preventing vandalism attacks that have occurred in the past. As such, the authority would operate in tandem with various government agencies including defense and security officials.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)