Avi Maoz sharply attacks Tel Aviv deputy mayor: "Who would have believed?"

MK Avi Maoz (Noam) sharply attacked Tel Aviv Deputy Mayor Reuven Ladiansky after he declared he would act to prevent the establishment of a Chabad synagogue in an underground parking lot in Ramat Aviv Gimel. Maoz wondered how in a Jewish state one must fight for the right to operate a synagogue, and compared the opposition to an alleged disregard for problems in the south of the city.

MK Avi Maoz (Noam) sharply attacked Tel Aviv Deputy Mayor Reuven Ladiansky following a video in which Ladiansky declared he would act to prevent the establishment of a Chabad synagogue in an underground parking lot in the Ramat Aviv Gimel neighborhood. Maoz quoted Ladiansky's words, saying that Chabad had "taken over" part of the parking lot and that he intended to use his authority on the local planning and building committee to block the request for a change of use. Maoz wondered: "Who would have believed that in a Jewish state one must fight for the right to operate a synagogue?" and compared the opposition to an alleged disregard for problems in south Tel Aviv, including "infiltrators, illegal residents, drug dens, and gambling clubs." The article notes that the local committee has ten members, and Ladiansky cannot prevent approval on his own. The Tel Aviv municipality stated that there is no obstacle to submitting a request, and it will be examined by professional bodies.