Chareidi Rishon L’Tzion Councilman Meir Akiva has requested the city arrange separate beach areas for Arabs who come to the city from PA (Palestinian Authority) areas. The city council unanimously voted down his request.
In his request filed over a month ago, Akiva cited money should be allocated to provide separate beach areas for PA residents for security reasons in light of the many terror attack during recent months. “We must not abandon our children with the Arabs in this matter as they do not have sentiments for anyone” he wrote in his letter.
This week he turned to the mayor, explaining “I know some will accuse me of being a racist but others will state I am sane. I do not have a problem with them saying I am generalizing for I think in this case it is justified. We are still licking the wounds from the murder of Hallel [Ariel in Kiryat Arba HY”D] and those murdered in Tel Aviv. I am willing to take the blows and insults accusing me of racism but my bottom line is to be concerned for the entire community”.
He added that the reality is PA residents arrive at the beaches and force themselves onto the local scene. “We are not thirty years following the struggle but in the midst of it” he adds.
There was much anger directed towards him by Mayor Dov Tzur and other council members. “You should be embarrassed! You are not worthy of serving on the council. Has something happened to you in recent years? You are an embarrassment to your position” they mayor shouted at Akiva.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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One Response
So the Arabs prefer to go to the Hareidi (single sex) beaches? This could be a tremendous propaganda victory for the hareidim? It also changes the dynamics of providing separate beaches for males and females (something overwhelmingly opposed by most Israeli Jews)– the frum community demanding single-gender services that the Muslims also favor means that those who oppose single-gender facilities should be accused of being bigots.