Jerusalem Mayor Rabbi Uri Lupoliansky sent a letter to Prime
Minister Ariel Sharon thanking him for his decision at last
week's cabinet meeting to include the City of Jerusalem among
the main priorities for next year's budget.
"Jerusalem is not only the capital of the State of Israel,"
writes Lupoliansky, "but also the largest city in Israel. The
mosaic of its population is the most varied and complex in
Israel and perhaps in the entire world.
"Maintaining Jerusalem's status as the capital of the State
of Israel and its economic development can be accomplished
only through a combination of forces and backing from the
Government of Israel. One of the finest collections of people
in the country resides in Jerusalem. With the government's
help we can lower the price of housing, encourage
entrepreneurs and a younger population to move to the city
and transform Jerusalem into a strongly built city."
Mayor Lupoliansky's letter continued, "The city's prosperity
also requires the Jerusalem Security Barrier be completed
right away . . . The heinous terrorists also understand that
when the heart bleeds the entire body withers and they have
directed the majority of their attacks at the innocent
residents of the City of Jerusalem whose only crime was their
choice of making the city their home. In our recent meetings
you indeed listened attentively to Jerusalem's distress and I
am confident the implementation of your decision will
contribute greatly to the city and its residents."
