The Shabbos conflict in Yerushalayim surrounding the city’s decision to open a shabbos parking lot to accommodate non-frum visitors has now reached the level of email threats against Mayor Nir Barkat.

Police have been contacted and they are investigating in an attempt to trace the source of the threats against the mayor.

The head of the Union of Local Authorities, Shlomo Buchbut has called for increased security for the nation’s mayors, warning “until one of the mayors is murdered no one will take the deteriorating situation seriously,” pointing out that during recent months, there have been numerous attacks and attempted attacks against mayors around the country.

Back in Yerushalayim, Sunday brought another day of rioting and violence by chareidim who insist there will be no compromise regarding the city’s decision to operate a shabbos parking lot.

While rabbonim seemed to have made a limited effort to curb the violence in various areas, the misguided youths in the chareidi camp and the extremist elements are taking full advantage of the situation and are spearheading violence and setting ablaze garbage receptacles in frum areas, in most cases, to the dismay of local residents.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)