First publication: 'Station agreement' violated in Geula

As revealed in B'Chadrei Charedim during the last two weeks there were a few incidents of vandalism of bus stops in Geula. Haredi council members and officials from the Ministry of Transport have expressed surprise over the acts of corruption, but so far it is not known who was responsible for implementing them.

Documents, revealed here for the first time, reveal that an agreement between the Ministry of Transport and the Eideh Charedi which were not utilized until the end - is the reason for the acts of vandalism.

The first document is the decision from the meeting held on 28th Nissan תשס"ז with the participation of rabbis from the Eideh Charedi, municipal representatives and officials at the Ministry of Transport, including Rabbi Yoel Roth, Dror Ganon, Shlomo Rosenstein, Rabbi Micha Rothschild, Rabbi Yechezkel Rosenblum, Rabbi Yosef Zvi Davidovich and more. The meeting was intended to reach an understanding whereby the Eideh Charedi will allow the continuation of the work in Geula in exchange for certain conditions.

Thus the agreement stated: "With the implementation of the new transportation system - light rail, we will operate in any way to reduce the number of lines passing the public transport of Strauss and Yechezkel Streets."

It was also decided that the two bodies - the Ministry of Transport and the Jerusalem Municipality - promoted at the time of planning a public transport pathway on Bar Ilan will operate that the planning will be based on the certification track transportation lines in Bar Ilan. "Beyond this it was decided: "lines that run through the streets Strauss and Yechezkel, will not stop at Kikar Shabbos, unless passengers have a connection to this area."

One of the most important sections for the Department of Transportation and the city is the following section: "The Beis Din of the Eideh Charedi in the public sphere will allow the continuation of the work to upgrade the track infrastructure, public transport on Strauss and Yechezkel Streets."

"The agreement was not honored, and value was subtracted"

Recently, at the end of the month of Iyar, another letter was sent on behalf of the Eideh Charedi to one of the Ministry of Transportation officials who attended the meeting in תשס"ז, claiming: "The residents complained that the lines are used primarily for the general public and are not intended for all residents of the ultra-Orthodox neighborhoods - not just passing through, but they also have stops on the street Yeshayahu and Strauss. "

"There are also lines that are almost empty and completely unnecessary after inserting the light rail, and other than spiritual damage, they entail a safety hazard to the neighborhood residents and their families with many children. So that not only the agreement is not honored, but also its value is diminished, and disruptive to the neighborhood residents who act in the spirit of the Torah and the ways of modesty."

The letter concludes by Eideh Charedi members requesting an urgent meeting with all relevant parties, but the investigation conducted by B'Chadrei Charedim - so far they have not received even a comment from a municipal or government official at the Ministry of Transport.

Due to this, the extremists decided to act by vandalizing buses. Last week a bus station was vandalized on Strauss Street - having just been upgraded by the municipality for the residents comfort, made in the ultra-Orthodox neighborhood. Vandals smashed the windshield of the station and poured black paint on the benches. On another station they poured black paint on the windows as well as other stations.

Unofficially, extremists in Mea Shearim claim that it was agreed before upgrade work began that it will be possible to fold the benches which will be installed at bus stops to prevent young boys and girls sitting at the station on Friday night, in order to avoid it becoming a place of inn dating between boys and girls. "If we do not get answers within the next two weeks," warns a neighborhood source, "we will organize a demonstration, and we also get the backing of Eideh Charedi because everyone agreed on this."

Jerusalem City Council member in charge of public transport in the city, Shlomo Rosenstein said in response to B'Chadrei Charedim "discussion held with representatives of the Geula neighborhood and the Eideh Charedi representatives in Nissan תשס"ז surveyed to those present various programs relating to the transportation schedule. All that was surveyed at the meeting in question was applied in practice, whilst additional steps beyond that should take place in the next six months. "

The Department of Transportation's response was not available, and when it is received - will be published.

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!