Arad Mayor Installs Fence After Gur Hasidic Schoolchildren Stone Secular Toddlers

In Arad, Israel, children from the Gur Hasidic community's Chalmish school have been throwing stones at toddlers attending a nearby secular kindergarten, sparking outrage among local parents. A mother of one of the affected children reported that her son, who requires special education, was hit in the stomach by a stone and remains traumatized. She described this as the fourth such incident in two years and expressed deep mistrust toward municipal authorities, stating that no previous promises or reprimands have stopped the violence. The mother called on the mayor to ensure the safety of all residents and demanded the removal of what she termed a disruptive community from the city.

Mayor Yair Maayan responded by condemning the attacks and summoning the Chalmish school principal for an urgent meeting with city officials. He announced the installation of a fence around the schoolyard to prevent students from approaching the kindergarten area. The school principal was tasked with investigating the staff's supervision during the incidents, and the city pledged to continue efforts to protect all children in Arad. Despite these measures, footage shared by residents shows that stone-throwing persisted even after the fence was erected, with no response from supervising teachers.

This ongoing conflict highlights tensions between the secular and ultra-Orthodox communities in Arad, with the mayor previously stating that there is "no place for shared living" between these groups. The situation remains unresolved as parents demand effective solutions to ensure their children's safety in public spaces.