But the Deputy Mayor of Beit Shemesh, Shmulik Greenberg of the mainstream Ashkenazi
haredi Degel Hatorah faction, announced that his faction will continue to support the coalition and its mayor known for coddling violent haredi extremists, Moshe Abutbul.
Haredi men arrested for stoning buses in Beit Shemesh last year
Moderate Haredim Bolt Beit Shemesh Governing Coalition
Shmarya Rosenberg • FailedMessiah.com
The Jerusalem Post reports that the moderate haredi political faction TOV resigned from the City of Beit Shemesh’s ruling coalition, apparently due to the haredi mayor’s refusal to deal with haredi extremists in the city.
Mayor Moshe Abutbul of the Sefardi Shas party has long been seen as unwilling to enforce laws and zoning and building codes in haredi areas, and haredi extremism has risen continuously under his watch. Haredim have assaulted little Modern Orthodox grade school girls and called them “whores” and “shiksas,” and have stoned women they believe to be immodestly dressed.
TOV is also reportedly upset with the failure of Abutbul to improve local schools and the city’s image.
Mayoral elections are scheduled for October of next year.
Non-haredi and even very moderate haredi residents are working to find a consensus candidate to successfully run against Abutbul.
“We look forward to one large coalition, from moderate haredim to the non-religious community, who will work together to unseat the mayor and get a fantastic city back on track,” Beit Shemesh activist Rabbi Dov Lipman told the Post.
Earlier this month, the Deputy Mayor of Beit Shemesh, Shmulik Greenberg of the Ashkenazi haredi Degel Hatorah faction, announced that he would not be running in the 2013 election. His faction, however, Greenberg said, will be supporting Abutbul.