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Last update - 07:29 02/09/2007
In defiance of order, Jerusalem prevents demolition of synagogue
By Jonathan Lis, Haaretz Correspondent

Uri Lupolianski, mayor of Jerusalem, illegally prevented the demolition of a synagogue built without a permit and in violation of municipal zoning codes.

The synagogue, built in the neighborhood of Givat Shaul, was slated for demolition because a public school was set to be constructed where it now stands. Lupolianski intervened after reaching a compromise with the synagogue's congregation, according to which the city will allocate land for a new synagogue on the same plot of land where the school will eventually be built.

Until construction of the school building begins, Lupolianski agreed to leave the synagogue standing.

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Yossi Havilio, the legal advisor to the city of Jerusalem, sent a scathing letter last week to Lupolianski telling him to rescind the compromise and immediately raze the disputed building.

Havilio deemed the arrangement between the mayor and congregation as a "prize awarded to felons."

"The order to delay the evacuation, along with the deal, are improper, unworthy and clearly in contraction to the attorney general's instructions," he wrote.

Sa'ar Netanel (Meretz), a member of Jerusalem's city council, said in response that this is not the first case in which Lupolianski has intervened to prevent the demolition of a synagogue or an edifice associated with the ultra-Orthodox community.

"Lupolianski has again proved himself to be a sectarian mayor who is biased in favor of the Haredi community," Netanel said. "It is impossible that in our time, Jewish religious establishments should receive immunity from building violations for which anyone of us would pay a heavy price."

Jerusalem's municipality said in response, "The Givat Shaul neighborhood is suffering from a sever shortage of synagogues due to the lack of empty plots."

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  1.   Jerusalem Synagogues 23:24  |  eddie karaite 01/09/07
  2.   Can you say double standard??? 23:25  |  B`galil 01/09/07
  3.   This is Reporting?? 23:42  |  Ronn 01/09/07
  4.   Synagogues 23:56  |  iletzter 01/09/07
  5.   Danger 00:01  |  Esther 02/09/07
  6.   Ho hum here we go again 00:18  |  Joe Jew 02/09/07
  7.   Order? whose authority? 00:20  |  jewboy 02/09/07
  8.   Reminders of Pravda 00:23  |  Just A jew 02/09/07
  9.   #2 who are you asking, the hareidim or the mayor? 00:25  |  jewboy 02/09/07
  10.   #5 how dare you imply that this paper is as bad as hamas? 00:26  |  Joe Jew 02/09/07
  11.   What, no regard for the Law? 00:50  |  B`Galil 02/09/07
  12.   The government has lost its authority 02:06  |  Moshe 02/09/07
  13.   Haaretz Called Israel Aparthied at U.N.... 02:34  |  Tom 02/09/07
  14.   Danny Rubenstein Haaretz writer called Israel Aparthied.. 02:37  |  Tom 02/09/07
  15.   Haaretz`s double standard 04:18  |  Jack Rubin 02/09/07
  16.   responsibility of a mayor met for all Jews!! 04:50  |  shmuel 02/09/07
  17.   illegal construction in jerusalem 04:59  |  david miller 02/09/07
  18.   Is this an arab/muslim newspaper? 05:00  |  E 02/09/07
  19.   Reasonable consideration for Jews and Judaism 05:50  |  Mike 02/09/07
  20.   #5, Esther... 06:28  |  Silvienne 02/09/07
  21.   What is with Israel and tearing down synagogues? 07:36  |  Steve 02/09/07
  22.   Hey Hoishe, it`s the Haredim that show no respect 08:03  |  B`galil 02/09/07
  23.   ** Synagogue Stays ** 08:35  |  Gary Pineda 02/09/07
  24.   HAARETZ HERE STANDS ACCUSED!! STAND UP IN THE DOCK AND RESPOND!! 08:46  |  James 02/09/07
  25.   Uri Lupolianski and his usual double standards 09:06  |  SJ 02/09/07
  26.   prayers 10:28  |  Maerton 02/09/07
  27.   Haaretz and all the news it fits to print 11:39  |  Yosher 02/09/07
  28.   WHAT A LAUGHABLE PR CAMPAIGN 12:02  |  indrajaya 02/09/07
  29.   Wow, illegal building never happened before! 12:03  |  Paul Henzen 02/09/07
  30.   with a hareidi mayor, jerusalem hareidis get away with murder!! 12:27  |  michelle 02/09/07
  31.   Jonathan Lis is Haaretz` Point Man on Charedim 12:59  |  Dave 02/09/07
  32.   defiance 13:28  |  COLIN 02/09/07
  33.   Breaking the law 13:50  |  Ben Alofs 02/09/07
  34.   Breaking the law within and beyong the Green Line 13:53  |  Ben Alofs 02/09/07
  35.   #30 ben doesnt know there is no green line 14:08  |  victor hardman 02/09/07
  36.   Destroying a synagogue in Jerusalem 14:20  |  Hilda 02/09/07
  37.   Sectarian mayor? Sectarian newspaper? Nonsense! 14:26  |  shlomo 02/09/07
  38.   Imagine it was Mosque built illegally, it must been gone by now? 15:21  |  John 02/09/07
  39.   yawn. Razing synagogues again 15:25  |  Tziporah heller 02/09/07
  40.   jewboy, old buddy 16:00  |  the pope 02/09/07
  41.   Joe Jews are as bad as hamas! 16:01  |  the pope 02/09/07
  42.   save us god from authentic Jewsh govmt!!! 16:04  |  Puhi 02/09/07
  43.   to michelle 16:07  |  Puhi 02/09/07
  44.   #22 and lack of respect 16:52  |  Joe Jew 02/09/07
  45.   #25 AND STALE OPINIONS 16:57  |  jewboy 02/09/07
  46.   Ho hum the pope is back 17:02  |  Jewboy 02/09/07
  47.   Puhi and irony, or is irony beyond your cynisism? 17:05  |  Just A jew 02/09/07
  48.   puhi and antisemitism- No never 17:07  |  jewboy 02/09/07
  49.   givat shaul synagogue 17:14  |  bear 02/09/07
  50.   The mayor achieved a compromise? Good. Thats his job! 17:53  |  AV 02/09/07
  51.   Why make such a problem? 18:01  |  Joseph 02/09/07
  52.   Chinese wisdom for Slowman 18:01  |  Jonathan Lis 02/09/07
  53.   Jewish feelings? 18:04  |  Motic 02/09/07
  54.   No permit? 21:23  |  Mark Lincoln 02/09/07
  55.   Lupolianski 23:56  |  Avi Yerushalmi 02/09/07
  56.   Mark Lincoln 23:59  |  Avi Yerushalmi 02/09/07
  57.   Is religion harmful? 00:00  |  Esther 03/09/07
  58.   ?! 03:07  |  Akram Zekaria 03/09/07
  59.   Avi Yerushalmi 04:37  |  Mark Lincoln 03/09/07
  60.   Esther - ask the Jews 04:41  |  Mark Lincoln 03/09/07
  61.   Rabbi Sirwirsky`s synagogue 04:47  |  Mark Lincoln 03/09/07
  62.   #57 Esther and all your comments 07:43  |  David 03/09/07
  63.   Esther #57 Brit poll on religion 08:58  |  Sherlock Holmes 03/09/07
  64.   80,000 Illegal Arab Buildings in Jerusalem 09:45  |  Efox 03/09/07
  65.   re: the pope 09:47  |  Efox 03/09/07
  66.   re: Esther 09:49  |  Efox 03/09/07
  67.   Building and law 11:27  |  charles 03/09/07
  68.   Please HAARETZ Can you print my yesterday`s post re Lincoln-60# . 04:28  |  Akram Zekaria 04/09/07
  69.   The Synagogue Should Stay.It is Holy. 15:44  |  Kath` 04/09/07
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