On the way to the struggle between the ultra-Orthodox and secular residents of Kiryat Gat?
Residents of the Stroma neighborhood, which has a high percentage of secular residents, awoke a week ago to a new reality in which construction of a school for puppy storks began.
Council member Yakir Schindler claims: "There is an attempt here to create hatred between religious and secular people."
Residents of the secular neighborhood in Kiryat Gat were surprised to discover this week that construction work on the school has begun under their noses.
The actions were not accompanied by any sign announcing which compound would be erected at the construction site nor were residents given any opportunity to express opposition to the move.
City residents, who have already begun organizing for legal proceedings and initiated a public protest against the establishment of the school, are furious at the proceedings.
Revital, a resident of the neighborhood: "No one knew about it. They set up a fence last week without signage and without announcements. Hopefully people would not pay attention and wake up one morning to the fact on the ground."
Svetlana, another resident, also protested: "They are building fast before the election to increase the electorate. It is not possible for the mayor to prefer one sector over all the other residents of the city. For years everyone has lived here in peace and right now just wants to evict us from the city."
Kiryat Gat City Council member Yakir Schindler: "There is a dangerous attempt here to sway between the secular and the ultra-Orthodox in the city. In Kiryat Gat, the ultra-Orthodox have always lived in partnership with the secular, and the mayor's desire, as expressed during this move, "To replace the residents. We have started a broad public, legal and media struggle, and we have no intention of giving up."
The Kiryat Gat municipality did not respond by the time the article was published
.
