Another fight over the sanctity of the Sabbath? This morning (Tuesday), a groundbreaking ceremony was held for the 'Yes Planet' entertainment complex, which includes movie theaters, in the area between Jaffa Gate and Sherover Hill, and it is expected to open next year.
During the ceremony, the company's management announced that the complex would be open on Saturday.
The parallel complex, Cinema City, built near the Supreme Court, is closed on Saturdays. In a petition recently submitted to the High Court, the High Court judges wrote that because the Jerusalem Municipality has a stake in the complex, the decision on its opening depends on the City Council - and the hearing is expected to take place next month.
The ultra-Orthodox council members are furious about the announcement, and announced that they will fight in every way against the place opening on Shabbat.
The chairman of the Shas faction in Jerusalem, Nati Lasri, said in response: "We will work to preserve and enforce the municipal bylaws in the status quo that exists in the city, as befits the character of the holy city of the Jewish people and its Torah. We regret such statements, which, in addition to making a daily headline, cause immediate economic damage to business owners in Jerusalem, in light of the traditional nature of the city and its residents.".
In conversation with Haredim10 Says City Council member Nachmaniel Saban from Shas: "It is not possible that in a place near the Western Wall, in the center of the Holy City, the Sabbath will be celebrated publicly. We are studying the issue, and we will act against this, in cooperation with all the ultra-Orthodox council members, something that has proven itself in the past.".
Council member Yitzhak Pindros: "I understand that Barkat needs publicity, so he's holding a ceremony for something that will open maybe in a year and a half. I'm not part of Nir's public relations campaign, as long as he hasn't hired my services.".
The municipality's response: "There is no change in the municipality's policy regarding the status quo as it has existed all these years in Jerusalem. This is a completely private complex that does not belong to or is not subject to the municipality. Just as other movie theaters have been operating in the city all these years, here too the law and the status quo do not prevent it from opening on Shabbat.".
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