Beit Shemesh: fanatic overturned the ballot - and arrested; demonstrations dispersed

Since the opening of polling stations across the country there were no unusual events that caused the disruption of the election process. But in the afternoon (Tuesday) Jerusalem police said that a haredi youngster in Beit Shemesh - apparently from the extremist communities - was arrested after going wild at the polls and overturned the voting table at the polls located on Rabbi Meir Ba'al Hanes in Ramat Beit Shemesh Bet. After his arrest he refused to identify himself - and was taken to the police station in the city. Elections continued as order.


Earlier demonstrations took place at Kikar Hashabbat in Jerusalem by the Neturei Karta, and neighborhood residents against voting in the elections. Police arrived at the scene after some of them tried to block the road, protesters left after a while – without any unusual incidents.

Extremists in Beit Shemesh also held a similar protest and a march through the city against holding elections. Some carried signs against "the Zionist state". Also there the demonstrators were dispersed by police without any unusual incident.


In Rechovot there was also an exceptional event when a Shas activist, resident of Rosh Haayin, was arrested for threatening the life of a resident of Rechovot if he does not support Rabbi Ovadia Yosef. He also threatened to fire him from his job as a rabbi and teacher. At the interrogation, the suspect admitted to contacting the teacher, but denied threatened him.

A Beitar Illit resident came to the polls in the city and posed with his friend's identity, the person was detained for questioning and admitted that he posed as the name of another. He was transferred for further investigation.


Police announced that the elections are held regularly in most places. Starting from this morning police handled about 350 election-related adverse events, such as hanging signs against the law, traffic near the polling station and fights between activists. Head of Operations Police, Commissioner Nissim Mor, said that the complaints are relatively low in number to those of previous elections, and attributed this propaganda moving from the street to the Internet.

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!