Violent Dispute Erupts in Arad City Council Meeting with Mutual Police Complaints

On Thursday, a heated Arad city council meeting ended with mutual police complaints between Mayor Yair Maayan and opposition members from the Gur Hasidic faction. Following the session, Mayor Maayan and Gur opposition members filed a complaint against former mayor and opposition leader Nissan Ben Hamo. Maayan accused Ben Hamo, an opposition member from Yesh Atid, of violently assaulting council member Moshe Reichman from Agudat Yisrael, including threatening and then striking him hard. Maayan also criticized Ben Hamo for disrupting the meeting with a loudspeaker and shouting throughout, undermining proper council proceedings.

Maayan condemned the violence, stating, "The city of Arad is against violence," and accused Yesh Atid members of hypocrisy, claiming they support democracy only when it suits them. In response, Nissan Ben Hamo filed a police complaint against Moshe Reichman, accusing him of intentional property damage and harassment after Reichman allegedly tried to sabotage Ben Hamo's sound system during the meeting. Ben Hamo declared, "We have finished remaining silent," signaling ongoing tensions within the council.

This dispute highlights deep divisions and escalating confrontations within Arad's local government, involving key figures from different political and religious factions. The police will now investigate the mutual allegations of assault and property damage stemming from the council session.