Some Jerusalem City Council Members Oppose Opera Festival That Will Be Held In Churches

In Israel, four Orthodox Jewish deputy mayors have introduced a resolution in Jerusalem's city council demanding an end to municipal sponsorship of events that could cause Jews to violate religious law.  Haaretz yesterday reported that the four want Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat to withdraw municipal sponsorship from a June opera festival because some of the performances will be in held in churches.  Their resolution states: "Extra caution shall be exercised when holding events in churches and other locations that Jews are forbidden to enter, on pain of death, by virtue of the prohibition against idol worship." The mayor says he has no intention of changing the festival program, but might remove the city's logo from some of the publicity material. Others on city council strongly oppose the motion that has been presented. A letter from Meretz party representatives said: "It's time the Haredim realized that Jerusalem is not a city bound by religious law, but rather a free city that lives in compliance with the Declaration of Independence, and that they do not have a monopoly on the Jewish religion."