Yeruham Mayor Clashes With Police During Protest Over KKL Funding Dispute

Yeruham Mayor Nili Aharon protested on Tuesday outside the Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael (KKL) chairman Eyal Ostrinsky's meeting in the town of Omer. Aharon accused KKL of unilaterally halting payments for the operation of Yeruham Lake Park, threatening local jobs and the park's future. The protest escalated into a physical confrontation with police after Aharon refused to leave the Omer municipal building, leading an officer to attempt to arrest her. Video footage shows Aharon shouting at the officer and resisting arrest, eventually falling to the ground as police tried to handcuff her.

Yeruham Municipality stated that Aharon arrived for a peaceful, coordinated protest against KKL's decision to stop funding, which has left about 40 million shekels for park development frozen for over four years. KKL chairman Ostrinsky responded that he had offered multiple meeting opportunities, which Aharon canceled last minute, and that the dispute had turned legal after she threatened court action. Ostrinsky denied any political bias claims, emphasizing professional conduct and accusing Aharon of bullying behavior.

Following the incident, Aharon was taken by ambulance to Soroka Medical Center due to her medical history and abnormal health indicators after the police confrontation. Yeruham officials condemned the police's use of excessive force, noting that the protest was authorized and coordinated. The Omer mayor confirmed Aharon's presence was approved. Police later said the incident ended on site after Aharon apologized and the Omer mayor withdrew the complaint, leading to the cessation of police action.

This event follows a November altercation at the Yeruham Likud branch where Aharon was recorded clashing aggressively with voters. The ongoing conflict highlights tensions between Yeruham's local government and KKL over funding and governance issues affecting the community and public assets.