If It's That Dangerous, Don't Come!!

Is there still time to disinvite US President Bush? The draconian "security measures" being demanded for his "safety" are outrageously insulting. He will be seriously, horrendously seriously, inconveniencing innocent Jerusalem citizens and those of us who travel to Jerusalem for services, shopping and personal reasons.

Streets will be closed to vehicles and pedestrians. Businesses will lose money. Is Bush going to compensate them? What about our wasted time and cancelled appointments?

Just in case you haven't seen the list of "measures," here they are:

Maximum security will be implemented from Tuesday May 13th through Friday May 16th. This will effect the daily life and traffic in Jerusalem.

Prohibited parking
Wednesday, May 14thMuseum Row, Shmuel Weiss,Rupin,Ramban,Paris Square, Agron, Hameches Square, King David, Amoni, PLumer Square,Jabotinsky, Wingate Square, Hanassi,Smolanskin,Keren Hayesod,Ben Zvi,Shazar,Binyanei Hauma (emergency exit) Thursday, May 15thMuseum Row, Shmuel Weiss, Rupin, Ramban, Paris Square, Agron, Meches Square, King David, Admoni, Plumer Square, Jabotinsky, Wingate Square, Hanassi, Smolanskin, Keren Hayesod, Israel Museum Parking lot, Kaplan (between Rothschild and Rupin), Arlozorov. Friday, May 16thAdmoni, King David, Meches Square, Agron, Paris Square, Ramban, Rupin, Shmuel Weiss, Museum Row, Israel Museum Parking lot.Cars parking in these streets will be towed away.

Street Closures
The following streets will be closed for the 3 day visit:Keren Hayesod Intersection (Plumer Square) until Agron Intersection- Residents of the area will be allowd only upon presenting Id`s

Alternative driving routes
Begin Road, no. 9 road (Golda Meir Blvd., Yigal Yadin), Derech Hebron, Hativat Jerusalem, Haim Bar-Lev, Eshkol Blvd., Bar Ilan, Haneviim St., Jaffa St., Ben Zakai, Yehuda Hanassi, Golomb, Derech Moshe Baraam.

Important Links
The Israeli Presidnetial Conference 2008The President's WebsiteThe Israeli Police

Closed Sites
The Israel Museum:Closed on Wednesday May 14th, from 17:00 until Friday, May 16th at 11:00. Bible Lands Museum:Closed from Wednesday May 14th until Friday May 16th

Information Centers
Police: 1-700-90-20-30, will be open from May 12th from 12:00 Municipal hotline: 106, or 02-5314600

USA president's route: 14.05.08
Ben Gurion international airport : 11 amLanding at Ben Gurion international airport – reception – after the reception, flight to landing pad Givat Ram.Main driving routes:Road 1, Sacharov, Ben Zvi, Ramban, Agron, King David, Admoni. Landing pad Givat Ram – King David hotelMain driving routes: Landing pad Givat Ram, southern gate, Museums row, Shmuel Weiss, Rupin, Ramban, Paris Square, Agron, King David, Admoni. King David hotel – President's residenceMain driving routes:Admoni, King David, Plumer place, Jabotinsky, Wingate Square, Hanassi, President's residence. President's Residence – Prime Minister's residenceMain driving routes:Hanassi, Wingate Square, Balfoure, Smolanskin.Prime Minister's Residence – King David HotelMain driving routes:Smolanskin, Keren Hayessod, Plumer place, King David, Admoni.King David hotel- Binyanei HaumaMain driving routes: Admoni, King David, Hameches Square, Agron, Ramban, Rupin, Ben Zvi, Zalman Shazar emergency gate, Binyanei Hauma. Binyanei Hauma –King David hotelMain driving routes: Binyanei Hauma emergency gate, Zalman Shazar, Ben Zvi, Rupin, Ramban, Agron, Meches, King David, Admoni.King David hotel – landing pad Givat RamMain driving routes: Admoni, King David, Meches Square, Agron, Ramban, Rupin, Shmuel Weiss, Museum row Southern gate, landing pad.

USA president's route: 15.05.08
Givat Ram landing pad- King David HotelLanding Pad, South Gate, Museum Row, Shmuel Weiss, Rupin, Ramban, Paris Square, Agron, King David, Admoni King David- KnessetAdmoni, King David, Hameches Square, Agron, Ramban, Rupin, Kaplan, Rothschild, KnessetKnesset- King David HotelMain driving routes:Knesset, Rothschild, Kaplan, Rupin, Agron, Hameches, King DavidKing David Hotel- Israel MuseumAdmoni, King David, Hameches Square, Agron, Paris Square, Ramban, Rupin, Shmuel Weiss, Israel MuseumIsrael Museum- Prime Minister's ResidentShmuel Weiss, Rupin, Ramban, Arlozorov, Hanassi, BalfourePrime Minister's Resident-King David HotelSmolanskin, Keren Hayesod, Plumer Square, King David, AdmoniKing David Hotel- Bible Lands MuseumMain driving routes:Admoni, King David, Hameches Square, Agron, Paris Square, Ramban, Rupin, Shmuel Weiss, Bible Lands Museum

USA president's route: 16.05.08
Bible Lands Museum-Givat Ram landing padMain driving routes:Shmuel Weiss, Museum Row, South Gate, LAnding PadDeparture time: 10:45

Now, if safety was really their priority, there wouldn't be any motorcades, nor grand announcements. Everthing would be quiet and discreet. But men don't like that sort of style.