Israeli officials issued greetings to the Muslim world in honor of the month of Ramadan, while Jerusalem has undertaken a special project to prepare the city for the special religious events and celebrations.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman Emmanuel Nahshon said Israel was “wishing all Muslim friends, in Israel and all over the world, a meaningful Ramadan Mubarak. May this holy month be a time of peace, harmony and joy to all!”
Yuval Rotem, Director General of Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, wished “all Muslims celebrating the holy month of Ramadan in Israel, the Middle East and around the world a blessed holiday and a year of prosperity and good health.”
Ramadan began on Monday and will end on Tuesday, June 4. Eid al Fitr will be on Wednesday, June 5.
The Jerusalem Municipality completed its preparations for the month of Ramadan, a wide-ranging organizational effort in a variety of services including transportation, infrastructure, improvement of the city, culture and welfare, for the benefit of Jerusalem’s Muslim residents and the many pilgrims.
Holiday lighting was hung in various streets, greeting signs were hung in three languages throughout the city, and colorful festive flags were hung. In addition, shades were deployed and water fountains were set up for the benefit of worshipers in central locations in and around the Old City.
The municipal welfare department is distributing food stamps to the needy.
For the first time ever, the city will hold a first-of-its-kind market in Shuafat, in cooperation with the local merchants, to serve the 60,000 residents who live there and contribute to the economic development of the area.
Jerusalem’s Mayor Moshe Leon congratulated the city’s residents and Muslim visitors on the occasion of Ramadan, saying that this year the Jerusalem Municipality invested unprecedented efforts in improving the city’s appearance, infrastructure and cultural events in honor of Ramadan and the welfare of the residents.
“The Jerusalem Municipality will continue to do everything in its power to ease the fasts, Ramadan Kareem,” he said.