In anticipation of the Rashbi celebration in three months on Mount Meron, the state authorities continue to prepare and dismantle illegal structures around the Rashbi mark – in order to prevent the recurrence of another disaster, as happened last year. However, one structure was dismantled illegally and without a court order. This was reported today (Monday) in ‘Vient’.
According to the report, the Real Estate Enforcement Authority demolished illegally last week – in the middle of the night – the “Priests’ Bridge” that can reach the Rashbi Zion without risking exposure to burial caves. Which has meanwhile banned the demolition of the bridge.
Although it should be noted that the demolition was carried out in accordance with the recommendation of the State Commission of Inquiry into the Meron disaster, and so far three bridges on Mount Meron have been destroyed that endangered the participants of the celebration. The priests’ bridge received approval for dismantling earlier this month, but due to a petition a ten-day restraining order was issued against the demolition to allow petitioners to appeal to the district court – but as stated it was demolished in violation of the law.
The Real Estate Enforcement Authority states to their credit that the court’s restraining order was issued late at night and therefore “did not have time to be updated on the order”, but to their detriment is the fact that the demolition of the “Priests’ Bridge” was carried out late at night. Either way, now no appeal to the court will help after the bridge has already been destroyed.
Rabbi Avraham Froelich, one of the petitioners, who also serves as a member of the five-member committee that manages the tomb complex of Rabbi Shimon Bar-Yohai on behalf of the state, attacked: “It is not by chance that they arrived at two in the morning and not at seven in the evening,” he said. “Since what happened there has been a demolition frenzy here, and even though everyone knows what caused the disaster – they are looking under the spotlight for all sorts of construction law violations, as if that’s the problem.”
Froelich claims that over the years hundreds of different applications for building permits in Meron have been submitted to the authorities, but none of them have been approved or at least received serious consideration. “These are not people who wanted to build villas for themselves, but synagogues, mikvahs, guest complexes and a bridge for priests – good things for the people of Israel. Unfortunately they did not give a license for even one meter. And since there is a population explosion, Build without permits – with professional guidance and in a safe manner. ” He said, “People in Meron have the same claim that the Bedouin in the Negev have for neglect on the part of the state, which has pushed them into illegal construction.”
To illustrate the magnitude of the absurdity, Rabbi Froelich said that the authorities have for years urged the site administrators to train special service cells for the disabled and handicapped, even though this involves investing large resources on their part, and finally use the same cells 15-10 people a day. “The priests’ bridge is used by hundreds of people a day – and it does not interest anyone,” he claimed. “Without it they can not go up the mountain. It’s just catastrophic.”
The Real Estate Enforcement Authority responded to the demolition of the bridge, despite the decision to delay execution: “The court revoked the restraining order against the demolition of the building in a reasoned decision, accepting the state’s position that the applicants have no connection to the land on which the bridge is located and that it is an illegal structure.”
“Applicants were given the opportunity to file a request for leave to appeal until 13.2, but this was not submitted, and in its place they submitted another request for a delay in execution on the last day, which was not granted until late in the evening.” “The authority will carry out the said demolition,” it was added.
“The demolition of the building took place in the night hours of that day, when only the next morning was a decision issued to the Authority determining the continued delay in execution, before the rule of law. This decision was not before the Authority at any stage, but only after the demolition date. On the site, as it has done so far “, we noted to the end of the authority.