Jerusalem City Councilman Deutsch, a member of the chareidi coalition, told Kol Chai Radio on Wednesday night that Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat’s decision to cut services to the chareidi community in a punitive act in response to rioting in wrong and unacceptable.
The mayor announced earlier on Wednesday that he will no longer tolerate the violence and destruction of property and as such, he is ordering a cessation to municipal services to violence-stricken areas.
Deutsch questioned what the connection is between “vandalism, damaging traffic signals, burning garbage dumpsters and attacking buses and the chareidi community?” He went on to explain in an emotional and angry tone that the troublemakers, the “juvenile delinquents, numbering 40-100, act as they do, there is no justification to punish the community numbering about 80,000”.
The councilman further exclaimed that “we can no longer permit the city to unilaterally act against the community, compelling us to stew in our own misery for the act of a minority of delinquents”. Deutsch stressed the rabbonim continue to condemn violence, and it is known in city hall that the acts of vandalism in no way represent the community at large.
When asked about the condition of the mother who was incarcerated about a week ago, a women in the advanced stage of pregnancy compelled to be with “common criminals”, He stated he is well-aware of the situation and dealing with it, but was tenacious in his determination to address the mayor’s decision to cut municipal services to chareidi areas, insisting it is wrong and simply not acceptable, compelled to act on behalf of his constituents.
Deutsch added that as being the responsible person for the city’s transportation portfolio it was difficult for him today to face officials with the realization the “hoodlums” destroyed two vehicles. He added he is well-aware buses were attacked with rocks, but this he highlights does not justify closing down services, just as closing down the entrance to the capital with a protest does not justify cutting services on Eli HaCohen St. far away.
He had harsh words for the youths responsible for today’s violence, calling on the chareidi tzibur to call on police to act accordingly against them, to distance them from the community, as well as calling on city hall to act responsible to a large population of the city, which is a law-abiding community.
(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)
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7 Responses
shmendrick. of course they are responsible. if no one stands up to the hooligans – they are complicit.
Mr. Barkat I have a advise for you.
Like they say if you cant take the heat get out of the kitchen. if you cant handle the situation you have an opotion to resign.
THE DOCTRINE OF “COLLECTIVE GUILT” HAS A LONG AND SORROWFUL HISTORY IN THE ANNALS OF THE JEWISH PEOPLE.
The violent ‘youth’ should be arrested and thrown into jail. People should not try to protect them or justify their actions. There is no justifying such actions.
oy! what a big chilul HaSh-m. There should be more surveillance in these violent areas, more police in civilian clothing patrolling the areas after dark catching them in the act, and these youngermen who are obviously under no parental supervision should be caught and jailed or sent back to their parents. Doesn’t the mashgiach know where these boys are? Why do they have so much freedom to roam the streets? As for Barkat, what chutzpah does he have for punishing the vast majority of chareidim who are against the violence and have nothing to do with it. how does he get away with it?
#5, right on! They’re hurting it for the whole population.
Why is Deutsch still giving vital support to a sonei Yisrael by remaining in his coalition?
The charedim should be in the opposition. After all, it’s obvious that the mayor opposes them!