Israelis clash over religion guidlines in 'culutral war' on Yom Kippur

By Al Mayadeen English
26 Sep 2023 00:23

Israeli media reports that Israeli settlers engaged in physical fights over prayer and gender segregation during the holiday rituals.

Israeli settlers take down a gender divider made of Israeli flags set up by an orthodox group in defiance of a High Court order at a public prayer service in "Tel Aviv" on Yom Kippur on September 24, 2023 (Social media)

Clashes erupted during Yom Kippur between Israeli settlers advocating for gender segregation and those opposing it, prompting police intervention to quell the fights, as reported by Israeli media on Monday.

Israeli Channel 12 news broadcaster characterized the incident as a "cultural war" within "Israel", highlighting that the dispute over prayer segregation, particularly the separation of women and men during the holiday in Tel Aviv, escalated into confrontations and physical altercations.

"We have witnessed friction, though not as extensive as what occurred yesterday at Dizengoff Square. Nonetheless, we have observed such incidents in Ramat Aviv and other areas. In some instances, people reported clashes with the police."

In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remarked, "On Yom Kippur, the demonstrators engaged in acts of rioting against Jews during their prayers," adding, "It appears that there are no bounds to the hatred emanating from the extreme left."

Responding to Netanyahu's statement, the leader of the Israeli opposition Yair Lapid said, "The protesters were demonstrating in support of Judaism, not against it. The Prime Minister [Netanyahu] should refrain from incitement or division" during this holiday.

It is noteworthy that Israeli President Isaac Herzog previously affirmed that divisions within "Israel" have deepened and become more painful, expressing his concern about the ongoing developments within the Israeli society.