Ultra-Orthodox Riot Over COVID-19 Lockdown

Edited by: TJVNews.com

Thousands of Ultra-Orthodox men rioted in several cities in Israel on Sunday night in response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions which call for the closure of synagogues and yeshivas, and against the police’s attempts to enforce them.

The rioters in Jerusalem, Bnei Brak, Beit Shemesh, and Ashdod blocked roads, burned trash cans and violently clashed with police forces.

In Jerusalem, the rioters poured cement on the tracks of the light rail system, vandalism that could have caused the loss of life. They also attacked a train in transit and smashed several of its windows and trashed tram stations.

The police arrested three rioters.

In Bnei Brak, the rioters assaulted a bus in transit, beat the driver, and torched the vehicle. The massive fire burned nearby power lines and caused a power outage in the area. The driver’s bag and possessions were stolen.

The driver, Eyal Tzipori, 41, was evacuated and treated for light injuries.

The police arrested four rioters in connection with the burning of the bus, an attempt to storm a local fire station and an assault on the mayor’s car.

Tzipori said Monday that “right now, I’m not back to driving at all. I want to rest.”

“I went through a trauma and I have no desire to serve the passengers in Bnei Brak. It’s an attack on everything. Like a nationalist attack. I was in utter shock. I do not know why this is happening within our nation,” he said.

The Haredi leadership blamed the police for the violence and accused it of selective enforcement while announcing they would continue to run their communities as they see fit.

Several Israeli politicians denounced their attempts to establish an autonomy within Israel that has a negative effect on the entire population and called on the police to use full force to quell the riots.

Yeshiva World News reported that a statement of condemnation of the violent demonstrations was issued by Hagaon HaRav Chaim Kanievsky and Hagaon HaRav Gershon Edelstein, the Rosh Yeshiva of Ponavezh.

Even though it is understood that no one from the congregation of those who are Charedim Lidvar Hashem would participate in violent Hafganos (protests) where it is well know that this is not the manner of Torah,

And certainly, no one would ever dream of befriending the provocatuers from outside of our camp who ignite the flames of violence.

In addition, it must be pointed out that no one should approach or come close to these places [of violence] because it involves a violation of, “Harchaik min hachi’ur – Distance yourself from ugly matters” [See Meseches Derech Eretz 1:12]

It is also proper to temper our sense of curiosity in this matter, for the very act of seeing such [violent] behavior damages the soul

And there should be mercy from Heaven that those who err gain wisdom and walk in the path of Torah.

(TPS & YWN)