Members of the International Committee for Protection of Har Hazeitim (Mount of Olives) met recently with a dedicated Knesset caucus in what was designed to move ahead with measures that would ensure the safety of visitors coming to the oldest Jewish cemetery in the world.
The delegation headed by Shalom Lerner executive director of ICHH included committee members Jeff Daube and attorney Shalom Wasserteil and were joined by Dr Alan Mazurek committee member from New York.
"As thousands continue to go regularly on the mountain peacefully including special events on selichot night and on Hoshana Raba there have been several incidents of rock throwing which the delegation asked should be addressed," a press statement said. " Michael Malkieli reportedly promised to "continue to be in constant contact with the police to make sure they appropriate enough manpower to deal with the occasional attacks," the statement read.
Wasserteil brought up the need for efficient public transportation to continue non-stop, and Lerner notified the MK that the committee will be meeting with the heads of the Housing Ministry in order to rectify a situation whereby the security escorts leave because the funeral starts late.
Lerner said that he was "very hopeful that as a result of this meeting all night funerals will have proper security."
