Four-Year-Old Injured by Stones Thrown at Kindergarten in Arad Amid Community Tensions

A resident of Arad, identified as Ola, alleges that her four-year-old son was injured by stones thrown at a kindergarten by members of a community associated with the Gur Hasidic sect. The child, who attends a regular kindergarten within the special education framework, was left frightened and confused by the incident. Ola described ongoing conflicts between secular residents and the ultra-Orthodox community in the city, particularly over control of educational institutions. She stated, "My son asked me why he was hit with stones. I don't know how to answer him."

Ola claims this is not an isolated event, noting repeated stone-throwing incidents and escalating tensions. She reported filing a police complaint, but said the situation remains unresolved, with new stones thrown at the kindergarten even after the complaint. She believes the dispute centers on education, accusing the Gur community of attempting to dominate kindergartens as they have the local school. Ola expressed frustration, saying, "We bought an apartment here because of the education, but they took over everything."

Another local, Ayala, emphasized that the issue is not a religious war but a result of the Gur community's behavior, especially concerning youth boredom during the summer break.

In response, the Arad municipality condemned the stone-throwing incidents at Haruv Kindergarten. The school principal was summoned for urgent discussions with the mayor and deputy mayor, who oversee education. The municipality stressed that such serious events cannot occur in educational institutions and instructed the school to take all necessary measures to prevent recurrence. Temporary fencing was installed to restrict access to parts of the schoolyard, with plans for permanent barriers. The municipality is also addressing inadequate supervision during recess and reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring the safety of all children in Arad.