ICPHH Congratulates UTJ for Historic Coalition Agreement on Har Hazeisim

The coalition agreement signed between the Likud and Yahadus Hatorah (UTJ) includes a historic clause that obligates the new government to take measures to secure Har Hazeisim. It specifically calls for new security arrangements to “end the violence and desecrations on Har Hazeisim.” The agreement requires the new government to commit significant resources to bring full security to the 3,000-year old national beis hachaim of Klal Yisrael.

“This day has been long in coming,” said Avrohom Lubinsky, Chairman of the International Committee for the Preservation of Har Hazeisim (ICPHH), in his congratulatory message to MK Rabbi Yaakov Litzman, head of the UTJ faction. “While we have heard many promises in the past,” Mr. Lubinsky said, “it is the first time that the security of Har Hazeisim has been included in a coalition agreement.” He expressed the hope that other factions that value “the kedushah and importance of Har Hazeisim will similarly follow suit, assuring that it becomes a high priority for the incoming government.”

Mr. Lubinsky continued: “It has been five years since the ICPHH was launched to end the abuse and destruction on Har Hazeisim. Since then we have managed to raise the consciousness of the government and prompted them to install 137 cameras as well as to establish a police substation. Despite a major improvement in the security of Har Hazeisim, vandalism and periodic rock– throwing continue as the police response is sporadic at best.”

The ICPHH is urging the government to assure that the police station is fully staffed with a minimum of 24 officers, is able to facilitate complaints and is open 24/7. It is also requesting that additional cameras be installed on the approach roads to Har Hazeisim, particularly on the A-Tor Road and the Ras al Amud Square. Mr. Lubinsky said that it is high time for the government to build a high security wall and to restrict the access to those who use Har Hazeisim as a recreational playground and as a place to commit violence.

Harav Moshe Tuvia Lieff, Mara d’Asra of Agudas Yisroel Bais Binyomin, is convening a major asifah to deal with the security of Har Hazeisim on Sunday May 17^th at 10:30 a.m. in the Agudas Yisroel of Avenue L. Among the speakers will be Rav Lieff and several senior members of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah, including Harav Shmuel Kamenetsky, shlita, and Harav Aharon Feldman, shlita. Also scheduled to speak are Rabbi Chaim Dovid Zwiebel, Malcolm Hoenlein and Rabbi Menachem Lubinsky.

This article appeared in print on page 9 of the May 4th, 2015 edition of Hamodia.