Mayor Nir Barkat
Photo: Gil Yohanan
Haredim riot over parking lot
Photo: Gil Yohanan
Barkat considers alternative to Safra
Jerusalem mayor may sidestep haredi dissent by opening parking lot under charge of official receiver
Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat will reportedly attempt to solve the dispute over the Safra parking lot by recommending that a different lot, Karta, be open on Saturdays, Ynet has learned.
As the Karta parking lot is under the authority of an official receiver its opening is contingent upon a court order, making it a good choice for Barkat as it would relieve him of the responsibility of opening a place of business on the Sabbath. He is expected to announce his decision on Tuesday evening.
The Safra Squabble
Protest follows mayor's decision to keep parking lot closed on Saturdays while he holds talks with haredim over alternative lots
Karta, located near the Old City's Jaffa Gate, has 800 spots and would offer a practical solution for the city's shortage of weekend parking spaces. It is currently held by an official receiver as its previous owner amassed a sum of NIS 140 million in unpaid debt.
The ultra-Orthodox community has expressed dissatisfaction at the opening of the Karta lot, which prompted Jerusalem's municipality to offer the Safra lot in its stead. However the choice of Safra sparked violent riots by thousands of the city's haredim, and the municipality was forced to reconsider.
