Haredim Stone Hospital Construction Workers

Protesters are continuing their efforts to disrupt the construction of a new emergency room at Ashkelon's Barzilai Hospital. Tuesday morning, about 30 protesters hurled stones at construction workers at the site. Police forces were called to the scene and dispersed the rioters.

Haredim stone hospital construction workers
Violent protests against Barzilai Hospital construction continue; police force disperses rioters
Shmulik Hadad • Ynet

Radical ultra-Orthodox protesters are continuing their efforts to disrupt the construction of a new emergency room at Ashkelon's Barzilai Hospital.
 
Tuesday morning, about 30 protesters hurled stones at construction workers at the site. Police forces were called to the scene and dispersed the rioters.
 
The protesters are upset that the construction of the new medical facility required the removal of ancient pagan graves.
 
Meanwhile, the court extended the remand of three ultra-Orthodox rioters who protested at the site Sunday by another day. Five more suspects who received an offer to be released on restrictive conditions refused the proposal and will stay in detention. Police officials said they intend to file indictments against them.

A week ago, unknown vandals damaged construction equipment used at the hospital, halting the work at the site.

The Jerusalem Post claims haredim did not throw stones:

Police: Haredim did not throw rocks at Barzilai builders
By JPOST.COM STAFF
 
Askhkelon Police on Tuesday denied reports that Haredi protesters had thrown rocks at construction workers building a rocket-proof emergency room at Barzilai Hospital earlier in the day.

The police confirmed Haredi protesters' claims that they only prayed and demonstrated peacefully at the constructions area, which was previously an ancient gravesite.

Dozens of Haredi protesters congregated at the site earlier on Tuesday.

While it's difficult to say who is right, the Post has been minimizing haredi crimes with surprising regularity, perhaps because a significant portion of their readers and advertisers are Anglo haredim.

No matter, haredi riots and protests have delayed construction of this much-needed emergency room by almost two years.

Also, Israel's acting heath minister, Rabbi Yaakov Litzman, is a Gerrer hasid. Litzman has done everything in his power to stop construction of this emergency room.

And this is despite the fact that a pagan altar was found at the site, and all indications are that the graves belong to pagans, not Jews – a fact the Jerusalem Post omits.

The Post also fails to mention that 8 haredim arrested a few days ago for their activities at this construction site are still in jail.

Earlier this week, Israel's ERs in the region were so overcrowded that patients had to be sent to the center of the country to get treatment:

Hospitals in south overcrowded, patients transferred to central Israel
Health ministry says emergency rooms in 4 southern hospitals overcrowded; State Comptroller criticized in May space shortage in emergency rooms throughout Israel.
By Dan Even • Ha'aretz

The health ministry announced Sunday that patients hospitalized in hospitals in the south would be transferred to hospitals in central Israel due to overcrowding.

Health ministry director general Dr. Roni Gamzu instructed hospitals Soroka Medical Center, Be’er Sheva, Barzilai Medical Center in Ashkelon, Kaplan Hospital in Rehovot and Assaf Harofeh Hospital in Rishon Letzion to transfer patients to central hospitals with the assistance of Magen David Adom emergency services.

The decision will remain valid until the over population in the hospital's emergency rooms will diminish, the health ministry said.

Earlier this year, State comptroller Micha Lindenstraus criticized the shortage of beds in the country's emergency rooms as well as the lack of professional medical teams.

Haredim are endangering lives.

Comments

[harold]

Garbage is one thing, but stones are something else. Why didn't the police arrest the stone throwers? To let them get away is foolish since it allows them to escalate to the next level.

[Cheskel]

Harold,

Check this out: http://www.bhol.co.il/news_read.asp?id=19307&cat_id=1

[A. Nuran]

Harold, they've been getting away with stoning people for about thirty years. It started off with Shabbos drivers and has escalated steadily. They are like bullies or spoiled children who have gotten their way so long they think with some justification that they can get away with anything

[harold]

Check this out: http://www.bhol.co.il/news_read.asp?id=19307&cat_id=1

Interesting, I see no stone throwing but I do see the workers kicking two chassidim and noticed that one of the workers did not let one of the hurt students get help.

Maybe there was no stone throwing after all? If not why were there no arrests?

Very interesting!

[Shmarya]

Please.

The video shows two hasidim laying down holding on to each other and blocking access to the construction site.

It shows guards trying to get the to move.

When they refuse to move, the guards try to separate the two hasidim so they can move them.

After trying that, one guard stops on the hand of one hasid, which causes him to let go.

Then the guards drag the hasidim away.

Are the guards rough?

Yes.

But they are in no way beating or abusing the hasidim.

You can even see a few other hasidim standing on the grass off the road, and the guards don't bother them.

[Alter Kocker]

I dont know, if the construction workers were anything like the guys I knew who worked in my country. It would only take one rock before the Chareidi jerk-off would be sporting a brand new asshole.

Keep it up Chareidi brethren; within a week or two there will not be many of you to protest as you will all be sitting at home and icing down your nuts.

[harold]

You can even see a few other hasidim standing on the grass off the road, and the guards don't bother them.

I did pay particular note of them. They do not appear to be stone throwers, more like beard strokers.

[jay]

It's a shame they're not rastafarians. the stoning would be far more pleasant :-)

[A. Nuran]

Jay, I don't see why more Observant Jews don't smoke hemp. It's one of the "every green plant" God said was kosher for us*. It doesn't contain grape juice. It's not prone to bugs.And it definitely brings peace :)

*Well, except for strawberries, broccoli, cauliflower, blueberries, leafy greens, herbs, some nuts, asparagus, brussel sprouts, bagged salads, and pretty much anything else that might be good for you

[jay]

A. Nuran- you did forget that it has been defined as kitniyot in recent years. So all the poor Ashkenazim out there would have to sober up for a few riotous days.

[Bassy the Haredi Slayer]

Harold, they've been getting away with stoning people for about thirty years. It started off with Shabbos drivers and has escalated steadily.

In previous life I used be that little girl who trows stones on cars driving on shabbath on rechov hashomer. I hardly missed..

Now there is no chiloni on that street....

[A. Nuran]

Jay, who smokes seeds?

[Bassy the Haredi Slayer]

and the Hashomer street is now called Kahaneman Street

[jay]

A. Nuran-- I have no idea, but all hemp products are forbidden. Chas v'Shalom you should overlook one seed, ptoo ptoo ptoo ;-)

[David]

In previous life I used be that little girl who trows stones on cars driving on shabbath on rechov hashomer. I hardly missed..

Now there is no chiloni on that street....

Posted by: Bassy the Haredi Slayer | August 24, 2010 at 03:50 PM

Perhaps you can make teshuvah for this by going back and throwing stones at the Charedim....

[David]

Maybe this is not about the Pagan graves at all. Maybe what offends them most is seeing people hard at work on the constructions site (who are the ones that pay tax to pay their welfare).

[Dr. Dave]

Get their their photos, names and fingerprints. They are never to receive any sort of care or treatment from that hospital.

[Bassy the Haredi Slayer]

Perhaps you can make teshuvah for this by going back and throwing stones at the Charedim....

I do better, I pee in the mikvah

[Abracadabra]

Bassy -

Have you ever gone back to take a look at the old neighborhood? Do you miss it?

Btw - what do they say is the heter for throwing stones on Shabbos when it should not be allowed on Shabbos? They are being mechalel Shabbos to try to convince others to not be mechalel Shabbos?

[dlz]

Abracadabra,
You are absolutely right. Those people are crazy.

[Hometown Postville]

So how do they expect this new ER to benefit anyone in that area? They will surely bomb it the minute it is ready for use, and have already made it clear that no locals will step foot in it?? If the Charedim are so against it, maybe they could have funded an alternate site themselves! Sounds like they need to spend their time on more productive endeavors.

[Jeff]

In previous life I used be that little girl who trows stones on cars driving on shabbath on rechov hashomer.

Bassy, how is it rationalized in their communities? It's issur to throw a rock on Shabbat; I think it's issur even to pick it up.

[Bassy the Haredi Slayer]

, how is it rationalized in their communities

(a) That way they send children under bar-mitzva to do it.

(b) If you "meyached" (plan to use) the stone before shabbos , it is OK to carry it and to throw it

[Jeff]

(b) If you "meyached" (plan to use) the stone before shabbos , it is OK to carry it and to throw it

Seriously?