The Committee for Public Inquiries, headed by MK Rabbi Israel Eichler, discussed numerous complaints received regarding public transportation to the Western Wall.
Two elderly applicants claimed in the committee that the buses drop off passengers early in the morning far from the Jaffa Gate and they have to walk a long distance. One applicant defined this as "a nightmare getting to and from the Western Wall by public transportation." In addition, the applicants complained that they were forced to walk through the alleys of the Old City at sensitive times and days, while at real risk on the roads to the Western Wall. Also, on the way back from the Wall, people testified that they waited at night for about 25 minutes and in the end the long-awaited bus did not arrive.
Committee Chairman MK Israel Eichler said at the beginning of the discussion: "The transportation issue is important to citizens everywhere, especially to the Western Wall. In the distant past, hundreds of thousands of Jews came to the Western Wall. Over the years, public transportation to the Western Wall has developed and dependence on public transportation has increased. It has also taken a monopoly because it is impossible to open the area to private transportation in terms of the amount that the area can absorb, so we have a structural problem.".
There are men and women who come to the Western Wall frequently, including the elderly, who are a large part of the regular worshippers at the Western Wall. The suffering they go through is unbelievable. Whenever there are security incidents, the road in the Lions Gate area is blocked. Buses should be allowed to enter via Mount Zion in both directions, at sensitive times." Eichler called for the strengthening of buses: "It is not possible in a normal, developed country that hundreds of people would be jostling to get on a bus. In such a rush, people become animals and the entire ascension of the Western Wall is wasted on the round trip.".
Preventing vehicle entry during Ramadan
Hagai Yatziv, director of Egged's Jerusalem traffic department, said in the discussion: "There is no physical space to fit more than two buses into the Lions Gate. During special events at the Western Wall, and there are many of them, the amount of people there is life-threatening. No shortcut on foot is worth risking life. There are accessibility solutions to allow buses to reach the plaza, but we need the help of the municipality and the police, in allocating two parking spaces for the bus in front of the Lions Gate.".
Lt. Col. Shimon Marciano, traffic officer, also addressed the many events in the Old City: The Old City area hosts many events throughout the year. We are taking care of all possible solutions so that everyone can get to their place. During the month of Ramadan, we prevent the entry of private vehicles and allow only public transportation. We work in full cooperation with Egged and the Ministry of Transportation, and we provide a solution to any problem that arises. He announced that starting this Friday, the police will allow buses to enter via Mount Zion starting at 5:00 in the morning.
There is no way a bus won't reach the Garbage Gate, except for isolated events when tens of thousands of people come to the Western Wall, such as on the night of Hoshana Rabbah. These are the only times when buses can't be brought into the area because it is blocked by tens of thousands of people.
"When there is a security incident, we inform the Agad that it is not possible to enter and allow entry through Mount Zion. It takes a while for Agad to organize short buses that can pass through Zion Gate. We do not control a security incident and cannot know when it will happen, if it will happen.".
It will be possible to arrive via Mount Zion.
So is there a solution?
Guy Sari, director of the Jerusalem Municipality's projects unit, said, "These days we are working on signage in the garbage gate area, and soon a sign will be placed that will announce whether the bus has entered the garbage gate, also in Goren Plaza at the Western Wall station. Until then, there will be a surveyor who will inform the waiting public when the bus does not board. The question is how do we transmit information in real time during exceptional events, when the police stop the bus at the gate. I receive a variety of inquiries regarding parking. If we make a decision to allocate parking to the association, it will come at the expense of other public and we will have to consider this with all parties. We launched a free shuttle from the old train station complex to the Western Wall, which operates from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.." Avi Avraham from the Ministry of Transportation agreed with his words, saying: The best engineers are working on the matter, the signage and the update near the Wall, and it is not that simple. I am not saying it is not possible, we are looking into it.
Committee Chairman MK Israel Eichler summarized the discussion: "The committee notes the police announcement that as of this Friday, bus passengers to the Western Wall will be allowed to arrive via Mount Zion in the morning. The relevant parties met to formulate a solution for bus entry to the Western Wall station and to allow two reserve buses to park near the garbage gate. The committee demands that a sign be placed at the station or passengers be notified when the bus is not boarding. A follow-up meeting on the preparation of public transportation to the Western Wall will be held before the holidays in order to examine the reinforcement of public transportation and making the Western Wall accessible to the disabled in preparation for the days of Atonement and the holidays.".
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