The Haredi protest movement continued on Wednesday, alongside sharp political reactions after clashes between demonstrators and police. Photos from the scene showed injured yeshiva students on the road with torn trousers.
MK Yaakov Tessler condemned the police response, accusing officers of severe violence against the protesters. “The brutal cruelty we saw today, police throwing grenades, beating with batons, tearing protesters’ clothes and abusing them cruelly, is not law enforcement, it is dark rage released from brainwashing against Haredim. The blood of the Haredi public has become lawless,” he said.
Tessler argued that the violence stemmed from what he described as ongoing incitement against the Haredi public. “The shocking scenes are a direct result of the wild and ongoing incitement against the Haredi public. When an entire media and irresponsible politicians mark the Haredim as the enemy, the police on the ground understand the hint and the result is total loss of control,” he said.
He said the protest reflects deep pain over the treatment of Torah students and the issue of military conscription for yeshiva students. “Yeshiva students are not criminals and Torah study is not a crime. The protest comes from deep pain over systematic persecution of Torah learners in the Land of Israel. The world of Torah will not surrender to violence driven by hatred,” Tessler added.
