A group of residents from Jerusalem's Pisgat Ze'ev
neighborhood committed acts of vandalism and destruction at
the Ish Shalom government school after the municipality
decided to transfer part of the building to a Torah-based
school attended by 382 children from the neighborhood. The
City of Jerusalem is considering whether to file criminal
charges against those responsible for the incident.
When the municipality decided to put a portion of the
facilities at the disposal of a local Torah-based school
after it was discovered several classrooms remained unused,
the Pisgat Ze'ev Community Administration decided to hold a
demonstration with dozens of secular parents from the
neighborhood.
According to ranking city officials the protesters, with
Community Administration endorsement, wreaked destruction in
the classrooms designated for use by the Torah-based school
in order to prevent the religious students from studying at
the site.
Municipal officials expressed surprise over the residents'
conduct and laid the blame on the Community Administration,
which organized the large demonstration and endorsed the acts
of vandalism inside the school building.
According to City Spokesman Gidi Shmerling the City of
Jerusalem will take legal steps in the matter. "In any case
Mayor Rabbi Uri Lupoliansky will continue his efforts to find
shelter under suitable conditions for all students in
Jerusalem schools, and will not be deterred because of acts
of vandalism or violence."
Community Administration Director Chaggai Attiya was
unavailable for comment.
