Gadaliahu Eisenstein, Beitar Illit’s deputy mayor and head of the Hasidic faction, was violently attacked on Wednesday during a convoy linked to ultra-Orthodox protests from the city and was taken for medical treatment. He is currently undergoing medical tests.
According to eyewitness accounts from the scene, a man approached Eisenstein’s car, collided with it, and then began strangling him. The attack came against the backdrop of a worsening protest campaign by ultra-Orthodox demonstrators.
In the ultra-Orthodox community, voices called on police to stop, in their words, harassing a legitimate protest and to increase enforcement against violence directed at protest participants. At the same time, videos circulated online showing additional clashes between ultra-Orthodox protesters and passersby, including cases of severe violence.
Police had not responded to the footage as of the report. MK Meir Porush also spoke with Eisenstein by phone and offered support.
