It was a stormy motzei shabbos in the Rova Zayin neighborhood of Ashdod this week when a confrontation erupted between chareidi residents and the at-risk youths, “shabavnikim”.

The frum residents of late have been reporting an increase in the number of incidents involving these lost youths, incidents which they insist compromise the shabbos atmosphere in the community, contributing to the mounting tensions in the area. A motzei shabbos protest was planned to voice the community’s outrage over these youths.

On motzei shabbos, hundreds of residents gathered at the intersection of Rashbi and Rav Tarfon Streets for the event, and their presence rapidly resulted in a confrontation with the at-risk youths, who came out in numbers.

Police responded and made five arrests, two at-risk youths and three members of the area chareidi community.

According to reports, area askanim are meeting to decide how to proceed; apparently somewhat uncertain just how to address the problem and once again take control of their neighborhood.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)