Jerusalem Passing Corona Challenges with Flying Colors!
So how’s Yerushalayim faring during these harrowing Corona days?
At these times, it doesn’t take much to see that Jerusalem continues to live up to its reputation as a city of kindness.
In Jerusalem, as in Haifa and Be’er Sheva, Magen David Adom has established drive-in testing centers that can process “hundreds to thousands” of people a day. With malls and markets, such as the famous Machaneh Yehuda shuk, closed down, Mayor Lyon announced that the municipality would establish a “virtual mall” for Jerusalem businesses. In addition, a loan fund for up to 100,000 NIS is being established. And more…
But it’s impossible, even now, to ignore the political front. When the Corona crisis began to get out of hand in eastern Jerusalem, the Palestinian Authority wished to show that it, and not Israel, was in charge. But it crossed a red line when it began distributing health instructions via buses sporting the PA logo – as the Oslo Accords forbid the PA from operating in Jerusalem. Israel arrested the Jerusalem Fatah leader who organized the campaign, and Israel Police began forcefully breaking up gatherings larger than the permitted size.
Until the world realizes that Jerusalem the Holy is the eternal capital of the Jewish People, our struggle continues: We must ensure that Yerushalayim remains united under Israeli sovereignty, with a large Jewish majority – as indicated by history, ethics, security and simple logic.