Residents of Arad Protest Growing Ultra-Orthodox Influence and Religious Coercion

Hundreds of residents in the southern Israeli city of Arad gathered on Thursday to protest against increasing ultra-Orthodox control and religious coercion in their city. The demonstration followed recent tensions, including a violent clash about a week earlier between ultra-Orthodox members of the Gur Hasidic sect and secular residents. The Gur community recently purchased the local mall and demanded the removal of images of women from public spaces, sparking outrage among secular residents.

Protesters called for the resignation of Mayor Yair Maayan and criticized Deputy Mayor Guy Beriuza, holding signs accusing them of "selling out" the city. Olga Bulichev, a local resident, described the hostile atmosphere, saying, "People spit on us in buses and throw stones. They are not willing to live in peace, and we are here to fight for the city." Another resident, Alithea Svet, said the situation has worsened over her six years in Arad, with ultra-Orthodox groups trying to take over and turning the city into "Bnei Brak," a reference to a predominantly ultra-Orthodox city.

Former Mayor Nissan Ben Hamo praised the residents for standing firm in defense of their city and urged the current mayor to reconsider his coalition. The protest was heavily policed, including mounted officers.

The recent violent confrontations erupted during ultra-Orthodox protests against military draft evasion, with secular residents blocking ultra-Orthodox vehicles, leading to physical altercations. This reflects broader demographic shifts, as the ultra-Orthodox population in Arad grows rapidly.

Secular residents have also protested daily against changes in public space usage, including unofficial gender-segregated bus lines during peak hours, despite legal prohibitions. The municipality claimed these measures did not affect all residents, but the Gur Hasidim enforced separate seating for boys and girls on buses.

Following the Gur Hasidim's purchase of the mall, store owners were pressured to remove images of women from displays and to "modestly" present their businesses. One business owner expressed shock and acknowledged the illegality but felt powerless against the new owners' demands.