On Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the incident of Jewish extremists chasing Israeli soldiers in the city of Bnei Brak, before the police intervened and rescued them.
Netanyahu’s office stated in a statement that it “strongly condemns the violent riots that took place in Bnei Brak against female soldiers in the Israeli army and female Israeli police officers,” describing them as “an extremist minority that does not represent the Haredi community as a whole.”
The statement added: “This is a dangerous and unacceptable act. We will not allow chaos, and we will not tolerate any attack on members of the Israeli army and security forces who perform their mission with dedication and sincerity.”
Video clips spread on social media revealed angry crowds of men chasing female Israeli soldiers running with police escort in the streets of the city, which is predominantly religious, amid a state of turmoil.
This incident sparked widespread dissatisfaction in Israel, prompting the Chief of Staff of the Israeli Army, Eyal Zamir, to express his condemnation. The Israeli army confirmed in a statement that Zamir “views the incident with the utmost seriousness, and strongly condemns the attack on the soldiers who were performing a military mission in the city.”
The statement explained that “any attack on Israeli army soldiers by civilians is considered a serious crossing of red lines, and firm measures must be taken against the aggressors,” and added that “it is expected that the aggressors will be brought to justice.”
According to The Times of Israel, the two female soldiers serve in the Education and Youth Corps, and were in Bnei Brak as part of a visit to one of the soldiers at his home.
Various regions in Israel are witnessing continuous protests by the Haredim, the religious Jews, in opposition to compulsory conscription into the army, since the Supreme Court’s decision issued on June 25, which “obligates them to conscript and prevents the provision of financial aid to religious institutions whose students refuse military service.”
