"Bring 40 patrol cars": Mordechai David reveals his plan in Tel Aviv

Right-wing activist Mordechai David announced on Monday, in an interview on the program "Riklin and Partners" hosted by Shimon Riklin, that starting Wednesday he intends to hold a series of Selichot prayers with full gender segregation in public spaces in Tel Aviv. The first event, according to him, will be held at 18:00 at Habima Square, followed by a planned prayer at Dizengoff Square. David stated that he intends to continue these events twice a week until Yom Kippur, and clarified that if he is required to leave, he does not intend to do so.

At the beginning of the conversation, Riklin referred to the Yom Kippur events in Tel Aviv in 2023: "I personally still carry the trauma of 2023. I was at Dizengoff Square and they disrupted our prayer; I see what you are doing as a kind of correction."

David then revealed the plan: "This Wednesday, at 6:00 PM, we are holding Selichot at Habima Square with full gender segregation. I also intend to call Einav Zangauker and Shikma Bressler to invite them personally. Whoever wants to come will come, but with full gender segregation."

Riklin asked if David had received permission from the Tel Aviv Municipality, to which David replied that he does not intend to ask: "I am not asking. A police officer called me two days ago, and I told him: 'I am not asking you, I am doing it wherever I want.' He said: 'Fine, do whatever you want.'"

David added that the conversation with the police officer also touched upon the fear of riots: "I did this last year too. I told him: 'You cannot tell me what to do.' He said: 'You are right, I just want to know there will be no riots.' I told him: 'I am coming to pray; if there are riots, that is...'".

David did not specify the expected number of participants but noted he intends to arrive with an amplification system. The event at Habima Square is only the first in a series. The following day, he plans to move to Dizengoff Square, the site of the 2023 confrontation: "We will start on Wednesday at Habima, on Thursday we will do it at Dizengoff, and we will continue twice a week until Yom Kippur right in the middle of the square."

Regarding the possibility of police intervention, David was defiant: "Try to move me, I am not moving. If they call the police, let them call. We are fifty people, arrest all of us. Bring twenty, forty patrol cars if you have room. We are standing in the square, not moving, praying."