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Last update - 06:03 06/02/2008 Court rejects gov't bid to partially control Meron pilgrimage site By Eli Ashkenazi, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: meron, jews, israel  The Nazareth District Court recently rejected the state's request to temporarily take over running a major Jewish pilgrimage site, the grave of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yohai in Meron. Currently, the site is run by a conglomeration of 11 different organizations and rabbis, each responsible for a different part of the site. These groups have been embroiled in a lengthy legal battle with each other and the state sought temporary control of the site, until a less cumbersome arrangement for the site's management is established. However, this process could take years, and in the meantime, the state's authority at the site is strictly supervisory. Advertisement As the body responsible for the public's health and safety, the state argued, "it cannot stand aside when private parties who represent their own private interests control a site that is public in essence." The current management, it charged, has brought the site to a miserable state and endangers the welfare and safety of the multitudes that visit it. The grave attracts over a million Jewish visitors a year, more than any other religious site in Israel except the Western Wall. The pilgrimages reach their peak on the holiday of Lag Ba'omer, but tens of thousands of people also visit on the first day of every Hebrew month. The organizations that currently run the site argued in response that the state's request was an underhanded attempt to seize control of their assets before the courts have ruled on the ownership issue in the main case. Judge Gabriell (De-Leeuw) Levy largely accepted this argument. Currently, she noted, the site is being run under an interim arrangement negotiated among the warring parties and approved by the High Court of Justice. While this arrangement is not optimal, she said, there is no justification for scrapping it before a permanent agreement on managing the site is reached. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Prayer change Pope Benedict XVI nixes a reference to Jews` `blindness` over Jesus in a Catholic prayer. Blind and deaf in Jaffa 'The world's first professional deaf-blind theatre company' takes center stage in Jaffa.

Today Online IAF strike on Hamas police headquarters in Gaza kills seven Responses: 254 Burston: Barack Obama for Prime Minister of Israel Responses: 172 The Israel Factor: Is Obama really pro-Palestinian? Responses: 82 Foreign Min. backs Cairo request to double border forces Responses: 72 Harel & Issacharoff: The 300km problem along Egyptian border Responses: 64 U.K. to fund school trips of understanding to Auschwitz Responses: 100 Rosner's Domain From Super Bowl drama to Super Tuesday drama True or false: Obama is pro-Palestinian, McCain will appoint James Baker Iraq, remember? (WTR) Obama, Clinton and Iran: The vote that made the difference Poll: Do you trust Obama on Israel? More Headlines 02:02 IDF kills nine Hamas men in Gaza, Qassams rain on Sderot 01:33 Egypt warns Hamas against provocations on Gaza border 02:51 Gov't task force mulls international presence in Gaza Strip 02:11 Hamas claims responsibility for suicide bombing in Dimona 02:25 Obama strikes first with easy victory over Clinton in Georgia 04:57 Winograd panel member: Media distorted report on Second Lebanon War 03:01 Qassams succeed in chasing skilled workers from Sderot factories 00:03 Jordan urges U.S. to pressure Israel to stop Gaza strikes 05:57 Israel no longer the world's 'Mecca' of Jewish studies 04:55 Israeli Arab lecturer told to say he respects students' right to wear IDF uniform 21:43 Dimona bombing victim's son: Mom was to celebrate her 50th wedding anniversary 00:45 German children's book draws fire for alleged anti-religion bent Previous Editions Select Day 05 feb 04 feb 03 feb 01 feb 31 jan 30 jan 29 jan 28 jan 27 jan 25 jan 24 jan 23 jan

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