Anava Park, photo by Dr. Avishay Teicher
Council had denied entry to nonresidents during the holiday of Sukkoth last year. Following ACRI enquiries, the Modi’in municipality clarified: during the Passover holiday, Anava Park will be open to the public at large.
The municipality of Modi’in-Macabim-Reut had enacted a policy, which prohibited non-residents from entering the park during the summer months and on holidays, shortly before the Sukkot holiday in October 2012. Despite the official rationale for the policy – overcrowding in the park – the municipality’s actions raised suspicions that its true purpose is to exclude ultra-Orthodox Jews from the neighboring city of Modi’in Illit.
In response to the restrictive policy the Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI) sent a letter to the municipality, warning that the restriction is illegal because it violates the right to equality and in practice constitutes prohibited discrimination against a religious group. After ACRI followed up with a second letter, and prepared to file a court petition, it was announced in the media that during Passover, entrance to the park would be open to all. Nevertheless, the Modi’in municipality has refused to commit not to restrict entry in the future. ACRI calls on members of the public to report any future incidence of entry to the park being restricted, and does not rule out a future petition should the need arise.
According to ACRI Attorney Gil Gan-Mor, “restricting non-residents’ entry to the park is illegal and constitutes prohibited discrimination. Thankfully, this Passover, residents will be able to enjoy the freedom to spend time in the park without being discriminated against on the basis of their identity or way of life. ACRI will remain on guard to ensure that this continues to be the case.”
