Confrontations at Jerusalem springs: Naked bathers harass women

The cool springs in the Jerusalem Hills area have recently become a scene of disturbing confrontations. Hikers and travelers who arrive at the site to refresh themselves are forced to deal with a group of men who strip completely naked in the heart of the public space, demand that those present look away, and in extreme cases, even attack and beat the visitors.

The issue was brought to light by Galit Etzion, who described her experiences from the last few weeks at the spring. "This is the third week that I have been visiting the spring," wrote Etzion, "the group of thugs does not want secular people there. This is not a matter of ritual immersion... for that, there are mikvaot." Etzion recounted that she encountered men entering the water with no clothes at all, noting: "I have a photo on my phone of a man who entered the pool completely naked. Even before that, I witnessed two others."

When she tried to seek help from law enforcement authorities, Etzion encountered a frustrating response:

"I called the police. Like last week, it took the officers time to arrive and they also refused to go down to the spring. They demanded that I come to them. They told me that I could file a complaint."

Etzion emphasized the feeling that there is no one to rely on, and added a disturbing quote from one of those present: "I do not trust our security forces. One of the harassers there told me explicitly that as far as they are concerned, the police will not control the situation there. When I turned on the camera and asked him to repeat what he said, he chickened out."

Following the feeling that the authorities are not providing a solution, Etzion clarified that in her opinion, the solution is collective action: "What will help with these people is not the police and not the army, but — as always here — citizen organization. It is not enough that only I and a friend will come."

She called on the general public to join her in the struggle and warned against the expansion of the phenomenon: "I invite everyone to come on Fridays. This is not just a war of Jerusalemites. Now it is in the springs in our mountains, and in a year or two, it will be at the lake in Yarkon Park. Do not say it will not happen." At the end of her remarks, Etzion promised to continue the struggle and noted that the deputy mayor will also join: "So come. I am not stopping. And Havilio also promised to join next week."