Haredim Riot In Jerusalem

Hundreds of haredi residents block roads, set garbage bins on fire to express their displeasure with arrest of haredi protest organizer; police officer wounded, three demonstrators detained.

Haredim riot in Jerusalem
Hundreds of ultra-Orthodox residents block roads, set garbage bins on fire to express their displeasure with arrest of haredi protest organizer; police officer wounded, three demonstrators detained
Shmulik Grossman • Ynet

Ultra-orthodox fury: Hundreds of haredim rioted in Jerusalem's Mea Shearim neighborhood Monday night, blocking roads, setting garbage bins on fire, and hurling stones at police forces.

The protestors chanted "Nazis" at police and later headed to the Jerusalem-Tel Aviv Highway, blocked it, and shattered the windows of a police cruiser.

The reason for the latest angry outburst is the arrest of neighborhood resident Fischel Greenfeld, suspected of organizing violent haredi protests about two years ago. The demonstrations at the time were directed at an electronics chain that sold goods "banned" by rabbis to the Orthodox public, including MP4 players.

Greenfeld has been abroad ever since the protests and was detained upon landing in Israel last week. His remand has been extended.

Three protestors were detained during Monday night's riots, including a 17-year-old American who was nabbed in possession of stones in his pocket.

Eyewitnesses told Ynet that one police officer sustained light wounds after a stone hit his head.

In the wake of the growing violence on the haredi street in recent days, and as preparations get underway for Jerusalem Day - to be marked Wednesday - the riots drew senior police officers to the scene. The police presence on the streets included mounted officers and special riot police, as well as a truck that sprayed water at the protestors.

[Hat Tip: HaNavon.]

Comments

[A. Nuran]

A terrorist kingpin is arrested.
The terrorists resort to violence.
We should be surprised at this?

The shocking thing is that out of hundreds of these scum the police only arrested three.

[Adam Neira]

This violence in the Holy City is most unfortunate. If the prophesied righteous redeemer turns up in Jerusalem soon all the various sects will have to accept his sovereignty. There must be a command and control structure that is obeyed.

[Not Orthodox]

"as well as a truck that sprayed water at the protestors." At last, an effective way to make sure that they get a bath!

[Hometown Postville]

"The demonstrations at the time were directed at an electronics chain that sold goods "banned" by rabbis to the Orthodox public, including MP4 players."
Doesn't take much to read between the lines here. What about the accountability of the "Orthodox public?"
So if I were to open a restaurant in that neighborhood that served both kosher beef AND shellfish to cater to all tourists, my place would be probably be ransacked if one of their youth went incognito and ordered shrimp scampi? Shame on me for providing the temptation?

[Jack]

Start shooting real bullets. They don't deserve the rubber ones.

[Maskil]

The lesson is, burn shit violently and the cops won't even make an arrest. Serve your country loyally with patriotism, and when you try a non-violent demonstration the cops will crack your heads open with their batons and finger-fuck your daughters. Why? Because you showed that you believe in the system, and then your rabbis will come out and condone the actions of the state. In this case let my paraphrase another commenter: Haredi Power! It's not a joke, it's a reality.

[W.Ford]

I understand the gay parade protest as it offend jews christians and moslems of all sects but to protest over trivial matters is against the tanach.