For many years the worshipers of the Cave of the Patriarchs have been impatiently waiting for the installation of an elevator that will allow those with disabilities to go up to the complex itself, which is several stories above the ground, but precisely now, when the works are in progress, inexplicable delays are causing great heartache.
Until recently, the plan was to complete the installation of the tower by the Tishrei holidays, among other things, in order to allow those with disabilities who arrive within the tens of thousands during the holiday of Sukkot to ascend to the structure of the Cave of the Patriarchs.
But lately, the cave says, the works are not progressing at a sufficient pace.
This is a delay that may last several months, and the Ministry of Defense said in response to an inquiry by "Israel Today" that the accessibility works will be completed by the end of the year.
"The workers are working at a snail's pace. There were maybe three working days this month. It is not clear what is holding them back," regular worshipers at the Cave of the Patriarchs told Israel Hayom.
From a tour of the place, it seems that there is a lot of work to be done, and there is no possibility that the elevator will be ready for Sukkot, much to the disappointment of the residents and visitors.
"We were told that the works would be finished by the holidays and suddenly now it is after the holidays. This is a puzzling decision, and it is hard not to think that maybe it is somehow related to the security tensions, although we have no clear indication of such a matter."
Praying in the Cave of the Patriarchs, photo: Police spokespersons
"The accessibility of the Cave of the Patriarchs is not a luxury, but part of the fundamental law of human dignity and freedom, which requires the accessibility of public buildings and the granting of freedom of religion and freedom of movement to people with disabilities," said Shai Glick, CEO of Bezelmo, who led a campaign to make the complex accessible and is still following what is happening there today. That the Civil Administration will do everything in its power to promote and speed up the accessibility. For over a year, the works have been stuck.
I call on the Minister of Defense to order the Civil Administration to act with record speed so that by Sukkot the place will be accessible to the hundreds of thousands of visitors to the place.
It is impossible for people with disabilities to be left out."
The Cave of the Patriarchs with access (simulation), photo: Ministry of Defense
The Ministry of Defense stated in response: "As part of the access works in the Cave of the Patriarchs, archaeological findings were discovered that necessitated the halting of the works. With the completion of the archeological documentation excavations, the works in the complex were resumed and are expected to be completed by the end of the year."
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