Outcry in Arad as former mayor’s video sparks calls for criminal probe

A political and public storm has erupted in Arad after a video by former mayor Nissan Ben Hamo attacked local residents from the Gur Hasidic community and the current city leadership. Ben Hamo’s use of the phrase “urban intifada” drew especially sharp criticism and prompted an urgent request for a criminal investigation.

The immediate backdrop was a tense protest by Gur Hasidim in Arad over the arrest of a married couple from the community on suspicion of abusing their toddler son. The arrest came after the child fell from a height and was injured in the head. In the ultra-Orthodox sector, leaders said the parents were arrested unjustly, and hundreds then took to the streets in protest.

In his social media video, Ben Hamo said, “There is no other way to describe what happened in the city except total loss of control.” He added, “When I said that we need to go out for an urban intifada, that is what it means. If we do not stand on our hind legs, we will get this in many times greater measure.” He also accused the ultra-Orthodox protesters of being a group that “does whatever it wants, whenever it wants.”

In response, Shas? No, the ultra-Orthodox political backlash was led by Yisrael Beiteinu? No, by Yitzhak Goldknopf, chairman of United Torah Judaism and housing and construction minister. Goldknopf wrote an urgent letter to Police Commissioner Dani Levy demanding immediate criminal proceedings, saying the term “intifada” goes far beyond legitimate criticism or free speech and amounts to incitement to violence and terrorism. He warned the remarks could trigger direct and dangerous incitement against Arad’s ultra-Orthodox public and called on law enforcement to act quickly before the rhetoric turns into street violence. Copies of the letter were also sent to National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and other enforcement officials.