Haredim apparently start fire to protest Barzilai grave relocation.
By JPOST.COM STAFF, ABE SELIGHaredim angry in bet shemesh 311(photo credit: Alon Nuriel)
Six firefighting teams worked to put out a raging fire near Ramat Beit Shemesh on Thursday, which was allegedly started by haredim in the area.The firefighters had to disperse groups of haredim who attempted to disrupt the teams' efforts to control the fire.RELATED:Damage due to Barzilai riots in Jerusalem: NIS 1 millionBarzilai bones transferred to Religious Affairs Ministry repHaredim draw swastika at BarzilaiThe fire is said to be connected to earlier protests in Jerusalem, where throngs of haredim protested the removal of the Barzilai graves in Ashkelon.Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu recently decided to move the graves inorder to enable the construction of a new emergency room for the Ashkalon hospital. The excavation work that began Saturday night, after talks between the PMO and Atra Kadisha failed to bring forth a compromise, sparked a day of Eda Haredit protests and vandalism around the country.Jerusalem police reported that a few dozen haredi men had begun throwing rocks at officers during the riots. Police responded by dispersing the men, although in the melee, a police car was attacked and damaged, and a folder containing police documents was stolen from inside.The police officer who was driving the vehicle sustained injuries to his and hand and was taken for medical treatment. His wallet, police said, whichcontained some two hundred shekels, was also stolen, and requests for the men to return the items were refused.Police eventually dispersed the men, although the stolen items remained at large.
