Haredim Protest, Violence Down

First largely peaceful haredi protest in months.

Haredim scale back Shabbat violence
JOSIAH DANIEL RYAN • THE JERUSALEM POST

Violent demonstrations staged by Jerusalem's haredi community in recent weeks were scaled back Friday and Saturday, due in part to last week's orders from the Eda Haredit against blocking roads, throwing rocks, spitting or taking protests beyond the religious neighborhoods.

While several cars and individuals that passed near religious neighborhoods were peppered with stones and water bottles from a gathering of about 2,500 haredim, there were no violent confrontations with police.

"In general things were relatively quiet in comparison to other weekends," police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld told The Jerusalem Post Saturday night.

In contrast, last weekend hundreds of haredim violently protested the opening of the Carta parking lot on Shabbat.

Police arrested more than 150 haredim during recent protests, drafted nearly 1,000 personnel from around the nation, and employed measures including stun grenades, pepper gas, special riot units, cavalry units and fired warning rounds of live ammunition.

On Wednesday, Rabbi Yitzhak Tuvia Weiss, who is the head of the Eda Haredit's rabbinical court, ordered followers to avoid violence and the participation of children in the demonstrations.

The rabbi also instructed followers not to leave haredi neighborhoods to participate in the confrontations.

The use of violence "severely hurts the battle for the sanctity of the Shabbat," said Weiss.

Despite the orders from the haredi leadership, security personnel maintained a strong presence and could be seen dressed in full riot gear throughout Saturday night.

Comments

[Office of the Chief Rabbi]

No rioting on Shabbos? Musta been the full moon.

[effie]

One, you think throwing some of them in the hoosegaw and refusing to release them might have influenced them a bit?

Two, if anyone spit on me, they'd be in big trouble.

[harold]

I guess they will have to see if peaceful demonstrations in their own neighborhood get them anywhere. Imagine holding a protest in your own home where nobody hears you and nobody get inconvenienced. Remember the old adage, "the squeaky wheel gets the grease". While I disagree with throwing rocks and spitting, blocking traffic is a logical form of protest which is annoying enough to get people's attention. I am not taking their side here I am just surprised that they swung the pendulum to the other side completely to carry out what is surely an ineffective form of protest. Then again if they want to end their protest, all the better, it is their call.

[SJ]

Even if it is a peaceful protest, I can't see how political protesting isn't some form of malacha.