Battles between secular and ultra orthodox heat up in Israel

[Liberal_in_LA]

Israeli police scuffle with ultra-Orthodox Jewish protesters angry about the opening of a city parking lot on the Sabbath in Jerusalem. Such tensions have grown in urban, secular areas as more ultra-Orthodox Jews move in.


A turf war heats up in Tel Aviv

Clashes between secular and religious Israelis are nothing new. In Jerusalem, shifting demographics have led to an uneasy coexistence between the fast-growing ultra-Orthodox community, known as Haredim, and Jerusalem's secular population. As Haredi protesters rioted in June over plans to open a city parking lot on the Sabbath, gay marchers held their eighth annual pride parade through central Jerusalem.

Now, however, these tensions are shifting to other parts of the country as Haredi families move into urban, secular areas such as Ramat Aviv.

On Saturday, tensions between the religious and secular communities of Tel Aviv reached new highs when a gunman killed two people at a community center serving gay youth (the shooting did not take place in Ramat Aviv).

Though no arrests have been announced or evidence released suggesting a link, some civic leaders and gay activists are blaming ultra-Orthodox political parties, contending their history of anti-gay rhetoric might have been a motivating factor in the attack.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-orthodox-clash6-2009aug06,0,6979232.story

[MrScorpio]

1. I wonder how many of the orthodox guys are emigres from the States?

I'm hoping the seculars prevail

[aquart]

2. I'm shocked. Shocked.

That Jews don't all think and act the same.

[daedalus_dude]

3. Well... Whether you can call a secularist a jew is debatable.

Judaism is foremost a religion.