Storm in Arad: Ultra-Orthodox individuals covered memorial stickers for fallen IDF soldiers with posters
Arad Mayor Yair Maayan filed a police complaint against an extremist group that desecrated memorial stickers for fallen IDF soldiers. The individuals covered the tributes with posters opposing a high-tech employment program for Ultra-Orthodox women.
The Mayor of Arad, Yair Maayan, announced on Thursday that he has filed a police complaint against an extremist Ultra-Orthodox faction that desecrated the memory of fallen IDF soldiers. The group had covered memorial stickers, placed in the city to honor the fallen, with posters protesting the employment of women.
In his statement, the mayor condemned the individuals as "violent extremist criminals," noting that they appear to be part of a faction residing outside of Arad.
The posters were directed against a high-tech training and employment program for Ultra-Orthodox women, operated in cooperation with the Ministry of Defense.
"The Arad Municipality is filing a complaint with the police and is working to locate the criminals using the city's cameras. They are trying to force their opinion on others by force, in a violent way. We will continue to act to preserve the public space in Arad," Maayan stated.
Last week, disturbing footage from Arad caused a public outcry after an Ultra-Orthodox man was seen vandalizing images of women on city billboards. A police complaint for damage to public property was filed following that incident as well.
The municipality has vowed to pursue strict enforcement and significant punishment for such acts to deter those who seek to harm the public space.
These recent events highlight the ongoing tension between the Ultra-Orthodox and secular communities in Arad, which reached a boiling point two months ago during clashes over the conscription of yeshiva students and the resulting road blockades.
