Sacher Park to offer room for debate

Israelis are no strangers to debating, if yelling past each other on any and every issue can be considered a debate.

To foster that culture, Jerusalem’s Sacher Park will soon feature an amphitheater and adjacent cafe styled after London’s Hyde Park, which is famous as a place of open public debates on myriad topics.

According to municipal plans reported by Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth on Wednesday, ground will be broken for the amphitheater in November and it is expected to open in early 2014. The new structure, which will be able to hold in excess of 200 people, is to be built in the northwest corner of Sacher Park, Jerusalem’s largest.

“The building of the ‘Hyde Park’ will give the thousands of visitors to the park the chance to exchange views and opinions,” Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat said, adding that the new area would also serve as a venue for cultural activities.