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NEWS
Multiyear Improvement Plan for Kosel Maarovi Approved
by Betzalel Kahn
The government approved a multiyear improvement plan for the
Western Wall Plaza this week. The plan calls for changes to
the main point of entry to the Kosel Maarovi, new traffic
arrangements and a new building to house the police station,
emergency and rescue services and other services.
Government ministries led by Director General Ilan Cohen and
the Western Wall Heritage Foundation drew up the plan over
the past few months in cooperation with the rov of the Kosel,
HaRav Shmuel Rabinovitz. Various architects and consultants
also took part in formulating the plan, which was needed to
accommodate the growing number of visitors, while taking into
consideration the limitations of the site and its special
character. HaRav Rabinovitz and Mordechai Eliav, director of
the Western Wall Heritage Foundation, appeared before the
ministers at this week's cabinet meeting to present the plan,
which the Prime Minister brought for government approval.
The government decided to allocate a total of NIS 68 million
from the budgets for 2006 through 2010. The Defense Ministry
will fund NIS 10 million, the Education Ministry NIS 10
million, the Housing Ministry NIS 10 million, the Tourism
Ministry NIS 10 million, the Interior Ministry NIS 8 million,
the Transportation Ministry NIS 8 million, the Internal
Security Ministry NIS 4 million and the Israel Lands
Authority NIS 8 million. The Finance Ministry will cover NIS
2.9 million in each of the next four years and NIS 2.4
million in 2010.
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