Religion Magazine

Israeli Park Nazis

By Gldmeier @gldmeier
The City of Givat Shmuel is supposedly closing off its park to non-residents. The complaint seems to be that during vacation periods many residents of other cities, especially the nearby Bnei Braq, come to spend their time in the nice free parks of Givat Shmuel, especially because they don't have similar parks in their own areas, and it is nice to get away and see other parks.
Motka Bloi, some Haredi askan that condemns everything that moves that he does not like, has compared this act to old Russia and Nazi Germany.
source: Kikar
While I think Bloi has gone overboard with his comparisons, as per his normal behavior, I do think his issue is correct that Givat Shmuel is wrong in their blocking residents of other cities from enjoying the parks, especially if it can be shown that the move is targeting residents of one specific city as Bloi claims).
The solution is really simple. This has been tried before and the courts, when petitioned, made it illegal. Ranana tried to close off its Park Rananana to non-residents, or to charge an entry fee to non-residents, but that was deemed illegal. They partially solved it by charging exorbitant fees for parking in the area surrounding the park, but still they couldnt bar anyone entry into the park. Modiin tried to do similarly by blocking residents of Modiin Ilit from coming to Park Anabe, and that was also shot down and deemed illegal. There might have been others, but these are the two I remember.
This simply has to be taken to court. No need to compare the city administrators to Nazis.
But yes, Bnei Braq should also build some parks for its residents to enjoy. No need to force them to run away to other cities for a simple park. Let them enjoy their own city (as well).
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