Several religious leaders on Monday denounced the violent riots that broke out the day before in the ultra-Orthodox city of Bnei Brak, when the police tried to enforce hte Health Ministry's social distancing directives by breaking up mass gathering violating them.
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Beni Brak was an epicenter of COVID-19 infections when the global pandemic first hit Israel in March 2020. Residents' flouting of directives was so severe that the city was placed under a special lockdown, enforced by the police and the IDF both.
Sunday's riot was among the most violent ever seen in the city. Officers who arrived to enforce lockdown directives were met by a mob that clashed with the troops, pushed dumpsters into the street and set them on fire, hurled fireworks at the police.
The mob also reporters and photographers for Channel 13 News and the Kan public broadcaster, hurling various objects at them, including rocks.
The most shocking moment came when protesters stoned a bus trying to make its way through one of the city's streets, and commandeered it, They forced the driver and the passengers out, then set the bus ablaze.
The drive, Eyal Tzipori, said he feared for his life as protesters were "crazed."
"This was nothing short of a terrorist attack. I was stunned – what is happening to people? This mob wanted to take out its rage on my passengers and me. We barely escaped with our lives. This could have ended with a disaster," he said.
A police statement said several officers were injured in the riot, including one who suffered a head injury.
"We will not be deterred by violence and will continue to enforce the national coronavirus lockdown, the police said in a statement.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denounced the violence, tweeting, "I strongly condemn the violence against Israeli police forces operating in Bnei Brak and I offer my backing to law enforcement who the Health Ministry's lifesaving regulations.
"We will act with a heavy hand against those who violate the law and first and foremost against anyone who raises their hand against our police officers."
Haredi officials rushed to say that the riots were the work of a radical fringe group that does not represent mainstream ultra-Orthodox society.
Halachic authority Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky, who has consistently ordered his followers to continue studying in groups despite schools being shuttered, and senior Rabbi Gershon Edelstein, condemned the violence, calling rioters "reckless individuals who spark the flames of violence."
In a letter, the rabbis ordered their followers not to join the protests or even observe them from afar, as it can "harm one's soul."
Kanievsky also invited the driver to his home and denounced the incident again in their conversation.
Sephardi ultra-Orthodox leader issued a harsh censure of the violence, ordering followers to stay away at all cost.
Sephardi Chief Rabbi of Israel Yitzhak Yosef said he was "appalled to hear of the violence in Bnei Brak" describing their actions as "sacrilege."
"The violence by a group of youths who have obviously strayed from the ways of the Torah and our norms are utterly unjustified. Such acts cannot be carried out in the name of the Torah – to say that is blasphemy. These outlaws must be condemned in every way."
Shas Council of Sages head Rabbi Shalom Cohen issued a decree "absolutely barring Shas supported from being anywhere near such riots, which contradict the way of the Torah in every way. Do not partake in such unforgivable sacrilege."
Bnei Brak Mayor Abraham Rubinstein, however, blamed police for instigating the riots.
"The Israel Police carries the blame for the catastrophe taking place in our city for several days," he asserted, accusing law enforcement of engaging in "provocative activity" and "collective punishment" against the city's residents.
Rubinstein seemed to change his tune on Monday, after a meeting with Tel Aviv Police Commander David Bitan, saying, "We will not allow fringe elements to undermine the fabric of living in the city. We will coordinate with the police to restore order to our streets."
United Torah Judaism MK Moshe Gafni, for his part, denounced the police: "It is inconceivable that the police, because of a violation on the beach in Tel Aviv, will close off a neighborhood and fire grenades and spray [teargas]."
UTJ leader MK Yakov Litzman said the fact the police had resorted to using crowd control measures was unacceptable. "Next, the defense minister will be calling in the air force," he charged.
Fellow UTJ lawmaker Yaakov Asher took a more reconciliatory tone, urging cooler heads to prevail.
"What we've seen in Beni Brak – that not Beni Brak rather fringe groups that taint the residents, who are law-abiding citizens. I urge the city to restore the cooperation it has always had with the police. Don't turn Beni Brak into a battlefield."
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