Bnei Brak Mayor Faces Criticism Over Treatment of Local Bnei Akiva Branch Supporters

In Bnei Brak, tensions have escalated over the future of the city's sole Bnei Akiva youth branch. Council member Yaakov Wider raised the issue during a recent city council meeting, accusing the municipality of acting against the branch's activities and describing it as "harassment of Bnei Akiva children in the city." He claimed there were attempts to expel the youth group and take over their public space, despite the branch's decades-long role as an important educational framework for local children and teens.

During the council discussion, Mayor Hanoch Zeibert reportedly dismissed the concerns of youth members present, telling them that "Wider is using you." He also stated that negotiations with Bnei Akiva leadership were ongoing and requested the topic be removed from the meeting agenda. After the session, several female youth members tried to engage with the mayor and council members to prevent the branch's closure, but according to eyewitnesses, their appeals were met with condescension and were dismissed unless they scheduled formal meetings.

Following the meeting, Wider released a statement highlighting that two girls left in tears due to the mayor's disrespectful attitude, noting that despite many officials being present, no one protested the treatment. The municipality and mayor's office reiterated that discussions with Bnei Akiva leadership are underway, justifying the decision to postpone the council debate on the matter for now.