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Photo: Hen Architects
Simulation of the bridge
Photo: Hen Architects

Tel Aviv to Ayalon Highways Co: Don't comply with Katz's demands

After Transportation Minister Katz ordered to nix weekend construction work on new bridge over Ayalon Highway, the Tel Aviv municipality tells the company it is bound by law to carry out the works as planned.

The Tel Aviv municipality warned Ayalon Highways Co. on Thursday not to cancel the planned weekend construction work on a new bridge over the Ayalon Highway despite Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz's decision to freeze the project until an alternative can be found that won't include work on Shabbat.

 

 

The construction of the Yehudit Bridge, which will connect Yigal Alon Street and the Montefiore neighborhood, was planned to take six weekends, during which parts of the highway will be closed from 6pm Friday to 6pm Saturday.

 

The ultra-Orthodox Shas and United Torah Judaism (UTJ) parties protested the desecration of the Jewish day of rest, leading Katz to nix the plans, which in turn caused public outrage.

 

Tel Aviv Mayor Huldai and Transportation Minister Katz with a simulation of the bridge (Photos: Shaul Golan, Hen Architects, Reuters)
Tel Aviv Mayor Huldai and Transportation Minister Katz with a simulation of the bridge (Photos: Shaul Golan, Hen Architects, Reuters)

 

The Ayalon Highways Co. said in response to the Tel Aviv municipality that "The Transportation Ministry has instructed us to examine alternatives, and we are acting accordingly."

 

In a letter to Ayalon Highways Co. CEO Itamar Ben-Meir, Tel Aviv municipality CEO Menachem Leiba noted that "As you know, the transportation minister has no authority to order the company how to act with regards to Shabbat work, and he is not entitled to order the company to refrain from working on that day. Not only do you not have to comply with his wishes, it is forbidden by law."

 

The municipality informed the company that "if no solution is found until Sunday morning, you are required to carry out the work—as agreed and as the company committed to—on the dates set forth and starting August 31. For there to be no doubt, we will state the obvious that Ayalon Highways Co. is not permitted to submit to political pressure and must act as ordered by law."

 

Minister Katz said Wednesday evening that his decision to cancel the works planned to start on August 31 would mean the postponement of the bridge's construction by half a year.

 

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu initially criticized Katz for the decision, saying on Thursday morning it is "unreasonable" to close the highway for traffic during night time on week days as an alternative to weekend work.

 

UTJ MK Moshe Gafni slammed the prime minister, saying, "I think the prime minister has erred in his comments. He shouldn't have interfered. Last time he interfered, it didn't help us. The Shabbat cannot become a weekday, a day of renovations."

 

This led the Prime Minister's Office to take a more conciliatory tone on Thursday evening, saying "Prime Minister Netanyahu trusts Minister Yisrael Katz to handle the matter of the works on the bridge and to find the best solution."

 


פרסום ראשון: 08.23.18, 22:57
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