Subscribe to Print Edition | Fri., November 20, 2009 Kislev 3, 5770 | | Israel Time: 01:32 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
Jewish World Haaretz Toolbar
Diplomacy
Defense Opinion National
Print Edition
Car Rental
Focus U.S.A. Strenger than Fiction Business Travel Magazine Week's End Anglo File Books
Share |
Not trusting the system, J'lem pool goers step up action to keep it open
By Raphael Ahren

Jerusalemites opposing the imminent closing of their beloved neighborhood pool recently stepped up their efforts to save the German Colony landmark, hiring a lawyer and collecting some NIS 22,000 in donations. Although the group has the municipality's backing, the future of the capital's only Olympic-sized pool is still unclear.

"We know the way things work in this city - if the pool closes without any clear plan for making the necessary repairs and without a clear commitment to reopen it on a specific date, the pool will not open again," said Haim Watzman, the Ohio-born chairman of the Va'ad Breichat Yerushalayim, or Action Committee against the Closing of the Pool. Currently, owners of the Jerusalem Pool are not extending memberships beyond December 31.
Advertisement

The health ministry had threatened not to renew the pool's business license past December 31 without certain renovations, which the pool's owners - the Elah Brothers and Moshav Shoresh - said they couldn't afford. Rather, they planned to build a housing project or a parking lot on the site. After the municipality asserted last month that the owners have to continue operating the pool, they pledged to do so but added it would be closed for "two to three months" after New Year's to do the necessary repairs.

One of the pool's operators, Rami Bar-Eli, said a final decision as to the pool's future has not yet been taken, and hinted the owners might consider reducing the pool's size or modify it in some other way. "But if we decide to build something there we won't do it behind people's backs; we'd announce it publicly and do it in orderly fashion."

Watzman welcomed the management's commitment to maintaining the pool but demanded the public be involved in the renovations. "We want to see the plans," he said, adding that his group opposes shrinking the pool and in the long runs favors transferring it from private to public ownership.

Meanwhile, the committee continues to press its case and pursue its fundraising campaign, which seems to be working. While some 20 Jerusalemites peacefully swam their laps Tuesday morning, two Anglo volunteers sat outside collecting donations. Hardly a minute went by without a passerby approaching them. Many generously chipped in.

"I've been using the pool for about 20 years and I love it and it would be a pity to close it," said Los Angeles native Marc Flamm. Even tourists opened their wallets: "If people are doing this [raising money] it means that it's important to them," said Allison Rosenthal, a New York resident here on vacation. "And since people really use the pool it's important that it stays open."

The money is primarily intended to pay Jerusalem lawyer Benjamin Hyman, who will represent the group in upcoming discussions about the pool's future. For November 22, the committee plans a march from the pool to the offices of the local neighborhood administration.
PROMOTION: Mamilla Hotel
Bookmark to del.icio.us  
 
Soccer field politics
Egypt recalls its ambassador to Algeria in diplomatic row sparked by soccer rivalry
Israel lobby 'exposed'
U.K. Jews claim British television 'expose' on pro-Israel lobby stokes anti-Semitism
Special Offers
Advertisement
Eldan Rent a Car
Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on online reservations
Date Local Jewish Singles
Ready to meet your match? Join Jdate today!
Junkyard
Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt
More Headlines
23:27 Report: Abbas says Israel secretly talking with Hamas
19:57 Marwan Barghouti: Peace talks with Israel have failed
17:43 Jewish teen apprehended over Jerusalem stabbing of Arab man
21:43 Children of suspected 'starving mother' smuggled out of Israel
00:03 Mendel Kaplan, 'giant in the Jewish world,' dead at 73
21:50 Report: Global warming to have severe impact on Arab states
18:58 Palestinian internet users stuck between Fatah, Hamas and Israel
00:12 TV ROUND-UP: Suspect charged in horrific murder; Court rules: No private jails
22:21 Egypt recalls ambassador to Algeria over soccer game
17:33 World powers to debate increasing Iran nuclear sanctions
19:59 Nasrallah re-elected as Hezbollah leader for sixth term
14:15 Britain's Channel 4 exposes 'power' of pro-Israel lobby
20:31 Prosecution closes corruption case against Olmert confidant Messer
Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Site rules |
| Advert: Recommended Restaurants | Makom: Engaging on Israel
| Search engine marketing
Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.
© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved