Shitreet:'There's nothing to debate.'
Photo: Sebastian Scheiner
'We’re going to stop for a grave?’
Transportation Minister Shitreet criticizes ultra-Orthodox demonstrations against construction of Route 6 section; says ancient graves won’t stop road
TEL AVIV - Transportation Minister Meir Shitreet lambasted ultra-Orthodox demonstrations against the continued construction of Route 6.
“The issue (of graves) doesn’t justify the commotion being made by these Satmar hassidim, who don’t even believe in the State of Israel anyway,” said Shitreet, speaking to Ynetnews.
According to the ultra-Orthodox, Route 6 will pave over ancient Jewish graves from the Second Temple Period. Yesterday, 33 ultra-Orthodox were arrested for blocking the highway.
Shitreet said, “The Transportation Ministry is following the law, those who aren’t are the ultra-Orthodox, who are demonstrating just for the sake of it.”
He said that the graves in question have already been removed and that, anyway, it is too late to change the course of the road.
The transportation minister also complained that ultra-Orthodox demonstrations have halted construction on a road between Acco and Carmiel in the north of the country.
“Everything is stuck,” he said.
On the subject of talking it out, Shitreet said: “I would have preferred to do this with ultra-Orthodox agreement, but there’s no way out. We spoke with them, but they have no real argument.”
Top rabbis join the row
Ynetnews was informed that the leader of the Lithuanian ultra-Orthodox Rabbi Yosef Eliashav is considering a joint protest vigil with the grand rabbi of the Ger hassidim and Rabbi Ovadia Yosef.
Sources around Eliashev said that the rabbi expressed “discomfort” that the ultra-Orthodox street has taken over the anti-Route 6 demonstrations.
Coastal district police are still preparing for demonstrations at the road construction site. More than 300 ultra-Orthodox were bused in yesterday from Bnei Brak and Jerusalem to the road section in Regavim and Chagit.
The demonstrations have been going on for three weeks, putting a drain on police personnel resources.
(Raanan Ben Tzur contributed to this report.)
