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Litzman vetoes moving Barzilai graves
By Ronny Linder-Ganz

Construction of a rocket-safe ward at Barzilai Hospital in Ashkelon looks farther away than ever: Deputy health minister Yaakov Litzman of United Torah Judaism yesterday vetoed the thought of moving ancient graves found on the site earmarked for the protected facility.

"I will not allow graves to be moved in Israel, nor will the Chief Rabbinate allow it," Litzman said at a meeting of the Knesset's Labor, Welfare and Health Committee. "I suggest building [the safe facility] in the parking lot."
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Litzman promised to find the money for the extra costs that would involve.

The discussion had been initiated by Robert Ilatov of Yisrael Beiteinu, who threatened that a delay could spark a coalition crisis. "We have a coalition agreement on this matter, stating that construction would start immediately," Ilatov said. "We have a responsibility toward half a million people who receive treatment at Barzilai. There is money. There is a plan. All that's needed is to start construction."

And to move the graves, which is the problem.

Barzilai is within the range of rockets fired from the Gaza Strip. Though, as Ilatov said, there is a plan to build a construct that would protect patients from rockets, the snag is that the chosen site proved to house human remains. Ultra-Orthodox politicians firmly oppose moving them, for fear of disrespecting the dead.

The sheltered facility is supposed to be a big one, with 22,000 square meters including operating theaters, a children's ward and an emergency room, and capacity for 250 patients. Its construction will cost an estimated $34 million, which has already been secured through government funding and private donations.

Preliminary work began in 2008, but was halted when the remains were found. Since then, battle has been waged over whether to build the facility as planned, or at a new site, such as the parking lot.
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