In Modi'in Illit, the concept of disengagement has a
different meaning. Here it refers to a plan to sever the city
on Shabbos from the electricity supplied by the Israel
Electric Corporation and to connect instead to a local
generator plant that would operate without chilul
Shabbos.
If the plan takes effect, Modi'in Illit would become the
first city in the country (and the world) where all of the
residents use kosher electricity.
The local council is working indefatigably to set up the
generator plant designed to supply the entire city with
kosher Shabbos electricity. The endeavor is being planned
from start to finish according to the directives maranan
verabonon under the guidance of HaRav Chaim Kanievsky.
The plan has not yet reached the execution stage. First the
matter was discussed in the beis din headed by HaRav
Nissim Karelitz, which approved the construction of the
generator plant at the site approved by the local council and
other authorities.
All of the different professional entities authorized by the
government to approve a project of this size participated in
this arbitration (borerus) since there was a
difference of opinion about where the plant should be
located. Professional opinions were sent by the head of the
Department of Air Quality at the Environmental Ministry;
Meteotek, the company responsible for the weather reports at
Ben Gurion Airport; an IDF Engineering Corps officer, and
other experts. These opinions supported the beis din's
decision to permit the construction of the generator plant at
the designated site.
All of the alternatives proposed to the superior planning
committee were rejected, after the committee deemed them
infeasible. According to a letter from the Planning Office,
the change in the course of the security barrier, which would
bring the fence closer to the city, precludes the possibility
of building the plant at the alternative site proposed, which
is situated outside the fence line.
Despite these determinations, a petition to cancel the plan
has been filed with the High Court.
