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Safed mayor, Mr. I. Shohat, architect S. Assif and the rest of the members of the steering committee in Old Acre.
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The first meeting of the steering committee dealt with outlining the ways of rehabilitating and preserving Old Safed, in addition to which it examined options for the management and development of the Old City, initiating a master plan, conducting a survey of buildings slated for conservation etc., while studying the methods that have been adopted in other ancient cities, particularly Old Acre.
Thus the steering committee deemed it appropriate that during its first meeting it host Mr. Dudu Harari, general manager of the Old Acre Development Company, who expounded on and described the work that company was implementing in the old city of Acre. A tour of the alleyways in Acre also took place which was guided by Mr. Ra’anan Kislev, director of the Conservation Department of the Israel Antiquities Authority, who presented the conservation activity in old city.
Mr. Shamai Assif, an architect and head of the Planning Administration of the Ministry of Interior, presented to the ministries’ representatives and the mayor of Safed the benefits and disadvantages of establishing a government development company.
Mr. Ilan Shohat, the newly elected mayor of Safed, emphasized that he recognizes the importance of the establishment of the steering committee and the fact that many government ministries are cooperating for the benefit of the Old City of Safed. Mayor Shohat added that “Safed is a complex, multi-faceted city but has a heritage and unique characteristics that with the help of planning and proper management can be turned into the international capital of Jewish culture and spirituality”.
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