Deputy Health Minister Yaakov Litzman announced Tuesday, 21 Shevat, that he will take part in a joint demonstration by chareidim, secular and Bedouin, in the city of Arad on Thursday, against the Housing Cabinet’s decision to allow the construction of a mine near the city of Arad, which they feel may harm the health of thousands of residents.

According to Litzman, Gerrer Chassidim will demonstrate with the secular residents against the government.

Speaking at the Knesset’s Economics Committee, Litzman said that “I am the deputy health minister, I am responsible for health, I do not interfere in matters of foreign affairs and security, it’s none of my business, but the thing about Arad is damaging people and killing people. When there is a health alert, scream and prevent anything that could harm people’s health.”

“I do not care about money, business, nothing,” Litzman continued, and threatened: “I will make the biggest mess over this, it concerns the health of people, I do not care if it’s Chareidim, Bedouins or secular people. Cancel the decision of the planning committee to permit the construction of the mine.”

The demonstration will be attended by all sectors of the city of Arad and the environment – chareidim, secular and Bedouin. They will be led by Deputy Minister Yaakov Litzman and Mayor Nissan Ben-Chamu, who in the past had been fighting in the context of the confrontation between chareidim, chassidim and secular residents of the city.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)