A large number of police officers gathered on Tuesday night in Beit Shemesh to ensure the safety of workers sent to tear down an illegally built Shul. Dozens of local Charedi men rushed to the scene once the workmen arrived and began throwing stones at the security forces and the workers. One officer was injured in the incident.
The city of Beit Shemesh issued a statement that said: “An understanding had been reached with Gabaim of the community who committed to leaving the building of their own accord without intervention on behalf of the city. The owners of the building even submitted a security deposit with the city to ensure the agreement. However, the owners together with the community decided to not honor their agreement, which left the city no choice but to bring in the police to ensure that the building gets taken down.”
A spokesperson for the city added: “The structure was erected on public land without any permits or allowances for the construction. The city does not wish to pursue altercations and therefore reached an agreement with the owners of the building, which stated that the owner would evacuate the building. In spite of continuous requests by the city for the owner to do so, the owner, unfortunately, decided to breach this agreement, which he himself signed and received a court order to uphold.”
A police spokesperson said: “A force of police officers accompanied representatives from the city to ensure the destruction of the structure that was built in an illegal fashion on land that belongs to the city of Beit Shemesh. Officers protected the city representatives and the hired workers who actually destroyed the building. Hundreds of rioters came to the location and began a violent protest which included throwing stones and other objects at the police. During the violence, one officer sustained a head injury and was taken to the hospital.
The police will continue work in order to ensure that legal directives and injunctions are carried out while safeguarding the public order and preventing any attempts to disrupt the injunction from being carried out. As part of this mission, we will make every effort to see that these rioters face justice.”
(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
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5 Responses
This was way too mild by the Chareidim. The Chareidim need to learn from the Ethiopians how to protest in a way that the Israeli police back away from them.
i think we are missing some details. this story doesnt sound whole
So when the Ethiopians throw stones at the police it’s horrible, but when the Chareidim do it it’s fine? And in Yehuda/Shomron if you throw stones at the border police you can be shot. Sounds like we have not a double standard but a triple standard here. What kind of frum Yid throws stones at a police officer knowing that they could cause serious injury (and in rare cases, actual death)? Don’t we learn that if you so much as lift a hand to strike another Yid you are disqualified as a witness in Beis Din? The Chareidim also have their double standards – glatt and chalav Yisroel kosher, but hurting another Yid is OK?
Someone should start shiurim for the Chareidim in bein adam l’chavero and derech eretz, not to mention dina d’malchusa dina. And also things like keeping your word when you reach an agreement.
It’s more a case of when the Ethiopians riot the police stand back, but go in to the Chareidim. Which tells me one thing: the police are terrified of the Ethiopians.
Having said that, these chareidim broke the law and the subsequent agreement, so the deserve the reaction they got. Do we REALLY need yet another shtiebel here? How about a hospital???
As usual the reshaim of YWN side with the atheistic authorities. Hashem is taking notes fellas.