Beitar Illit Mayor Urges Haredi Public to Adopt Protest Tactics
Translated & summarized from Arutz Sheva by baba
Beitar Illit Mayor Meir Rubenstein urged the Haredi public to adopt disruptive protest tactics, including blocking roads, to pressure the government on the issue of draft dodgers. Leaked recordings reveal Rubenstein suggesting the Haredi community learn from the Kaplan Street protests against judicial reform. He also criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, stating that public pressure is the only way to influence his decisions.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Beitar Illit Mayor Meir Rubenstein called for Haredi adoption of disruptive protest tactics.
- Rubenstein suggested emulating Kaplan Street protest methods, including traffic disruption.
- The mayor cited the arrests of Haredim evading military service as the reason for protest.
- Leaked recordings revealed Rubenstein's internal calls for widespread demonstrations.
- He criticized Prime Minister Netanyahu, stating public pressure influences his decisions.
Meir Rubenstein, the Mayor of Beitar Illit, has called on the Haredi public to adopt protest methods similar to those used against the judicial reform, specifically advocating for traffic disruption across the country. These calls, revealed in leaked recordings from internal conversations held months ago, were made in response to the arrests of Haredim defined as draft dodgers.
Rubenstein suggested in the recordings, broadcast Wednesday on Kan Reshet Bet, that the Haredi community should emulate the tactics of the "Kaplan Street protests," which he described as successful in influencing political decisions. He argued that blocking intersections and disrupting traffic, methods employed by other protest groups, are legitimate tools for the Haredi public to pressure decision-makers regarding the conscription of young Haredim.
"What is permitted for the Kaplan protest is permitted for us too. They taught us how to conduct a struggle," Rubenstein stated, emphasizing that the Haredi community should not refrain from using tactics that have proven effective for others. He proposed shifting protests from Haredi cities like Bnei Brak to Tel Aviv and major national intersections, urging demonstrators to "limp the country" to achieve their goals.
Beyond protest strategies, Rubenstein also criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, suggesting that public pressure is the key to influencing his decisions. He described Netanyahu as a "bandit" who responds solely to the level of pressure exerted upon him. Rubenstein pointed to the decrease in Netanyahu's rhetoric against the judicial reform protests as evidence that such demonstrations can alter the Prime Minister's stance, implying the same could apply to the issue of draft dodgers.
Rubenstein's office did not provide a comment on the published recordings.
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