Celebrating the 48th anniversary of the reunification of Jerusalem and looking to the future, Israel’s government approved plans to take its capital to the next level.
Government ministers and Mayor Barkat (fourth from left) during a celebratory session. (Koby Gideon/GPO)
The Israeli government held a special meeting at the Israel Museum in honor of Jerusalem Day on Tuesday, marking the 48th anniversary of the city’s reunification. The ministers approved a series of decisions aimed at strengthening the Israeli capital and preparing it for the 50th anniversary of its reunification.
The plans include a project to develop the city’s economy in the coming years, a five-year plan to upgrade infrastructure and transportation, continued development of the Western Wall plaza and tunnels, the preservation and promotion of archaeological sites and the expansion of education.
The cabinet also decided to allocate structures in Jerusalem for cultural and recreational use.
Many of the plans were formulated by Mayor Nir Barkat, who was in attendance.
The cabinet established a preparatory team for events to be held in 2017 in celebration of the jubilee anniversary, which will include various events in the fields of education, tourism, culture and sports, with an emphasis on the 2017 Maccabiah games.
“We will not go back to a divided city, a torn city, a city with barbed wire fences and snipers on the walls,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated. “This will not happen, and we will see to it that it does not happen. This is not to say that there are no problems or tasks – there are many. There is also distress. We want to provide solutions and we will continue to develop Jerusalem.”
By: Max Gelber, United with Israel
Sign the Declaration to Keep Jerusalem United
Jerusalem Must Remain the United Capital of Israel
I declare that Jerusalem is the eternal capital of the Jewish People and support all efforts to maintain and strengthen a united Jerusalem as the undivided capital of the State of Israel.