Tempers in Beit Shemesh were high the day after the serious incident, during which Mayor Aliza Bloch was rescued Tuesday night after ultra-Orthodox extremists attacked her car. Now, the city's residents are reacting to the incident and answering the most important questions of all: How can the extremist riots be stopped, and will the attack affect the city's elections?
Gadi Damri, a Beit Shemesh resident and social activist, told Israel Hayom: "This is a very serious incident and damage to a symbol of government. This shows the extent to which these ultra-Orthodox extremists, who unfortunately came to us from Mea Shearim, are spreading their terror in their neighborhoods. That's crossing every red line. It may end in injury to the soul. It's time to deal with this within the framework of the law, starting with taking down modesty signs if there are any and dealing with law enforcement agencies with their violence."
Car of Beit Shemesh Mayor Aliza Bloch
Damari added: "It's time to also enter them through economic enforcement, because ostensibly black money flows like water there. It is important to note that these are not all haredim but some of them, but the time has come for them to be treated at the root cause, so that they do not dare to disturb the order. This is not the way of Torah."
Yosef Ben Lulu, a resident of Beit Shemesh, stressed: "I strongly condemn this matter. We will not allow some bored extremists to make provocations right before the election. Let's let residents decide through the ballot box who is suitable to be mayor and not bored extremists."
Ben Lulu referred to the extremists who attacked Bloch's car, noting: "We are talking about a handful and every provocation carried out in Beit Shemesh is of the same people. This city is on track and will continue to be so. This is a black spot for all the haredi candidates, and you can see what style this city ran before Aliza was elected mayor. It will not affect the election. That handful of extremists who think he's running the city got a little confused."
Violent demonstration in Beit Shemesh (archive), photo: AFP
Ze'ev Moskowitz, also a resident of Beit Shemesh, added: "This is a very serious and sad incident that should not happen. Intimidation and damage to property. This is not the first time she has been attacked. They belong to zealots. They must be located, arrested, and also that they pay compensation for the damage they caused. It is inconceivable that they will use this kind of violence and continue as if nothing happened. I don't think it will affect the election."
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