Barkat undertakes: "keep the status quo"

Following the request of members of Degel HaTorah , the Jerusalem Municipality , raised the matter of Shabbos desecration at the station compound today (Sunday ) at a board meeting held at City Hall.

Meeting was attended by representatives of the secular parties. Yahadut Hatorah chairman Eliezer Rauchberger attended aswell as Yitzchak Pindrus, Yisrael Kellerman, and a representative of Belz - Halberstam and Representative Gur - Weizman .

Mayor Nir Barkat began by saying that he is committed to the status quo, "most clearly." All representatives of the parties agreed, including Hitorerut chairman Ofer Berkovich. Barkat explained that "no interest in fanning the atmosphere, you can try to reach an understanding by agreement."

He said that the concessionaire Murdoch won the tender to operate the train-station, and spoke with him on Friday, following the letter he received from Degel representatives and told him that he insists on status quo in place.

The winner also expressed consent.
Representative of residents also indicated that, during last Shabbos was no sound coming from the speakers as was heard on previous Shabbosim.

Barkat said that what is clear according to the status quo should be closed will be closed, and if not - Municipal Enforcement Authority will perform the work accordingly. The dispute is over the most gray and unclear parts.

Pindrus said he visited the site during last Shabbos and that it looked "like on a weekday."

Advice of the mayor decided to form a team to decide on the layout. Team members will be, besides the municipality Attorney Amnon Merchav, also Berkowitz and Rauchberger and winner Murdoch.

According Rauchberger, "which will be prohibited by law, will be closed, what is clear is legally able to stay open, unfortunately, will remain open." As an example, he brought the toy store open on Shabbos and that there is clear under the law should be closed so that even according to the opinion of Berkowitz.

"I hope that this Shabbos will close stores that are supposed to be closed," says Rauchberger, although he cites Pindrus casts doubt on whether the understandings will be implemented on the ground and claims have bitter experience of the past."

"We will not give into Barkat," promises Rauchberger, although it is a hundred percent success rate will not be there. "We are protesting the pain of what we cannot fix, and we regret that," he says.

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!