POLICE HAVE clashed with angry ultra-Orthodox Jews in the Israeli town of Beit Shemesh after religious extremists tried to impose illegal gender segregation.
The violence erupted after a group of ultra-Orthodox residents, who wear traditional long black coats and black hats, attempted to force their way of life on their modern religious and secular neighbours.
Signs were erected requiring men and women to use separate pavements. Girls attending a modern religious school were attacked and verbally abused because of what was termed their “immodest” dress, even though they wore long skirts and had their elbows covered according to religious custom.
The problem, which has been going on for months, became headline news over the weekend after Israel’s Channel 2 television aired a report. It showed a mother escorting her terrified seven-year-old daughter to school, after she had been spat on by ultra-Orthodox demonstrators who shouted “prostitute” at her.
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu ordered the police to act and said the government would use all legal tools available to prevent women being excluded from the public sphere.
“In liberal, western democracies, the public space is open and secure for everyone – men and women alike. There is no place here for any harassment or discrimination,” he said.
Over the last few days, the police removed the separate gender signs and Beit Shemesh council promised to install up to 400 closed-circuit cameras to deter extremists. Approximately 300 ultra-Orthodox Jews hurled rocks at police and television crews and shouted “Nazis” at the police. A number were arrested.
This evening, a large demonstration will be held in Beit Shemesh by residents of all Jewish religious streams, including ultra-Orthodox moderates, against the attacks on women. The rally for tolerance will conclude with the lighting of Chanukah candles.
The incidents in Beit Shemesh, a town of 80,000 which lies 15km (nine miles) west of Jerusalem, were only the latest in a series of attempts by ultra-Orthodox radicals to target women. An increasing number of buses have adopted a policy where women are forced to sit at the back, and many offices in religious neighbourhoods now have separate hours for women.
Leading ultra-Orthodox politicians condemned the violence and blamed the incidents in Beit Shemesh on a small group of fanatics who had recently moved to the town from Jerusalem and who had no rabbinical backing.