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.