In accordance to the decision of Defense Minister Benny Ganz, work has begun this week to finally provide better access to the Mearas Hamachpela after years of postponement. The work is being undertaken by the Security Ministry's Department of Engineering and Construction. It is under the supervision of the Staff Officer of the Civilian Department of Archaeology. It is expected to take half a year, until Pesach. The solution to easy access includes a passageway from the shopping area to the Cave square, including a bridge enabling worshipers to directly reach the site.
Access for the handicapped has been a problem for many years with the hope of an elevator never yet materialized. The main entrance is accessible to the handicapped but is permissible only to Arabs, while Jews may enter the Cave only via the stairs leading to the hall of Yaakov Avinu.
At the end of May, 2021, after the High Court had already ruled that accessibility be made possible immediately, this was actually frozen again, this time by Security Minister Benny Ganz. Beginning this week, however, in conforming to Ganz's decision, work has begun and will hopefully carry on until completion by Pesach.
