The Aguda Israel has pledged a fight to the finish to block Mayor Teddy Kollek’s plans to build a modern sports stadium near Malha, a suburb in the southern outskirts of Jerusalem. The opposition is headed by Meir Porush and his father, Aguda MK Menachem Porush, who accuse the Mayor of insensitivity “to the feelings of tens of thousands of (Orthodox) Jerusalemites.”
The Orthodox object to the stadium on grounds that it will disturb the tranquility of the Sabbath–the day when soccer and other matches draw the largest crowds — that it encourages violation of Sabbath bans and that it will turn the “holy city” into “an international sports center.”
KOLLEK EXPECTED TO SUCCEED
Orthodox objections, often accompanied by violent demonstrations, succeeded in defeating earlier plans for a sports center located close to religious neighborhoods. But political observers say that this time Kollek will succeed in carrying out his promise to provide Jerusalem with a modern stadium for sports events.
They note that the Aguda’s objections are not widely supported by other religious elements or by secular Jews who had protested in the past that a stadium near densely populated residential neighborhoods would create noise and traffic jams.
The new site for the stadium is far from built-up areas. Municipal architects say the facility will be constructed so as to prevent any significant noise from disturbing major population centers of the city. The city fathers are confident that the planning committee will approve the project.
They point out further that the Orthodox Poalei Aguda Israel party and the new Sephardic party, “Shas,” are negotiating to join Kollek’s Labor-led coalition in the City Council, fully aware that the Mayor intends to go ahead with the stadium. The Porushes are looking to Aguda supporters in the U.S. to exert pressure against the stadium.
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