Today, Monday, Shoshan Purim in Jerusalem: the streets that will be closed and the traffic arrangements

In the shadow of the protest of some of the abductees’ families – today, Monday, starting at 10:00 a.m., a ‘United Purim’ procession will take place in the streets of central Jerusalem. Later, at 14:00, the traditional Purim party in Nachalot. This is how the police are preparing to accommodate the thousands of celebrants who are expected to attend

Published on: 25.3.24 08:44

This morning, Monday, starting at 9:00, several streets in the city center are expected to be closed to vehicle traffic. Also, the light rail will operate in a partial service format only and will not pass through the central section between the central station and Ammunition Hill. The reason? The ‘United Purim’ procession of the Jerusalem Municipality and the cultural institutions in the city, which will march between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. from King David Street to the old Mishbir Square on King George Street.

The procession, as we know, takes place in the shadow of the protest of some of the families of the abductees. The protest broke out in full force towards the end of last week, and on Thursday it was hoped that a solution would be found, after Mayor Moshe Leon met with representatives from the families of the abductees and reached certain understandings with them about changing the name of the event – from ‘Adelaida Jerusalem’ to the ‘United Purim’ procession and also about reducing the music and its strength.

After the summaries, some of the abductees’ families announced that they would march at the head of the procession in order to further raise awareness of the issue of abductees and abductions, alongside the display of the yellow symbol for their return from Hamas captivity in Gaza.

At the same time, there are those who still do not agree with the march, and even threaten to take protest measures during it – such as spilling blood on the route, displays showing the atrocities that the abductees and the abductees go through, etc.

Either way, the procession this morning is expected to attract thousands of Jerusalemites and many visitors from around the country. As part of the preparations for the procession, many streets in the center of the city will be closed to vehicle traffic, and the Jerusalem police are deployed in large forces along the route of the march and in the surrounding areas.
The police retirement includes thousands of police officers, security forces, volunteers and orderlies who will operate in the procession area and all over the city, with an emphasis on places of recreation and leisure, as well as friction centers. In addition, the police emphasize that the district’s traffic policemen will enforce life-threatening traffic offenses, with an emphasis on driving under the influence Alcohol effect.

The streets that will be closed to traffic today
The Purim procession will march starting at 10:00 a.m. from King David Street (corner of Mapo) through the Karib intersection, King Shlomo Street, IDF Square, Jaffa Street to the King George/Jaffa intersection, and will end at the King George – Ben street intersection Yehuda (city tower).

In order to maintain order and the safety of the participants in the procession, various roads will be closed to traffic from 9:00 a.m. until the estimated end of the procession at 2:00 p.m.

King David Street – from Plumer Junction to Jaffa Street, Shlomo Hamelech, Agron, Yitzhak Karib, Paratroopers (traffic will be allowed through the IDF tunnel only), Jaffa Street – from the corner of Shlomo Hamelech to the corner of King George, Strauss Street – from the corner of the Prophets to King George corner Ben Yehuda, King George Street – from the Ben Yehuda intersection to Strauss Street.

As you know, as published yesterday in “Khal Ha’ir”, the light rail will operate this morning in a partial service format only, when there will be no service on the procession route in the center of the city. The train will operate on two separate routes:
– From the air force station in Pisgat Ze’ev to Givat Tamashut (in both directions)
– from Mount Herzl station to the central station (in both directions)
– There will be no service between the central station and Ammunition Hill (in both directions)

Also, depending on the crowds, the following roads or some of them may be closed to vehicular traffic: Eliash, KIH, Haneviyim – from Davidka Square to Strauss Street. In addition, entry during these hours will be prohibited from the Bar-Lev axis in the direction of the Tribes of Israel.

The roads will be opened to traffic gradually and according to the progress of the procession.

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With the end of the colorful procession, at 2:00 p.m., the traditional Purim party will begin in Nachalot (Nissim Becher and Agrips streets). In order to prepare for the party, the following streets have been closed to traffic since the morning hours:

Nissim Bakr, Agrippa, Gezer, Eilat, the alleys between them, Rabbi Yitzhak Brashi up to the Euphrates River, Eliyahu Salman up to the Euphrates River, Agrippa Street – from the corner of Shiloh to Rabbi Shmuel Baruch near the “Shokanion” (the “Shokanion” parking lot will remain open).

“We call on the public to show maximum vigilance and sensitivity in regards to suspicious objects and people. In any such case, call and report without delay to Moked 100,” the police said.