Violent riots in Jerusalem: bus pelted with stones and road blocked
Passengers on their way to the capital encountered severe riots and stone-throwing by the ultra-Orthodox public, while a central street was completely blocked to traffic, causing severe confrontations until the arrival of security forces.
Violent incidents and severe traffic disruptions were recorded at the entrance to Jerusalem after ultra-Orthodox protesters blocked Weizmann Street. During the riots, the protesters threw stones at a bus line that had arrived from Karmiel to the capital, as one of the passengers recounted. At the same time, the protesters blocked for almost an hour the vehicle of a secular woman who wanted to enter the Nahlaot neighborhood, until the arrival of police forces led to the dispersal of the rioters and the opening of the route.
As is known, these events are taking place against the backdrop of the public storm that arose following the words of former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett on the subject of public transport on Shabbat. In an interview, Bennett suggested dismantling the national status quo and granting authority to every local authority to decide according to the character of its population. He noted that in a secular city the answer is yes and in an ultra-Orthodox city no, and emphasized that his compass in this matter is the use of common sense and decency.
Bennett's statements sparked sharp reactions in the political system, especially in the Shas party, which strongly opposed the initiative. In the ultra-Orthodox party, they attacked Bennett and claimed:
"Whoever is willing to sell the Jewish identity of the state, the Shabbat, and marriages according to the law of Moses and Israel for the sake of politics, will eventually sell the Land of Israel and the settlements in Judea and Samaria as well."
The violent events on the streets of Jerusalem alongside the sharp political debate show that the issue of religion and state continues to be at the center of the agenda. Now it remains to be seen how the law enforcement authorities and the political echelon will act to maintain public order and the freedom of movement of the citizens.
