Sderot security chief under fire for anti-haredi posts

A storm erupted in Sderot after the head of the municipality's security division, Erez Gaz, posted sharp attacks on the haredi public in an online political discussion. Gaz wrote that he views haredim as "a greater threat than a Palestinian state", alongside additional statements against Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and the haredi community.

The remarks drew fierce responses, with residents and local figures calling for action against him. City council member Doron Taktuk, representing Shas on the council, wrote in response to the posts that Gaz should be dismissed.

Following the uproar, Gaz published a response in which he claimed that quotes from his statements were circulated partially and taken out of context. At the same time, he acknowledged that some of the phrasings he posted were inappropriate and apologised to anyone who was hurt.

"In the heat of online discourse, phrasings were written by me that should not have been written. If anyone was hurt, I am sorry and I apologise for that," Gaz wrote.

He added that he is a believing person who respects every individual and every community, and pledged that as a public servant he would refrain in future from public political discourse on social media.

Gaz emphasised that he has dedicated his life to the security of the state and that he came to Sderot on a mission, to establish the security division and work for the city's residents.

The Sderot municipality responded: "Upon publication of the statements by the head of the security division, Erez Gaz, the mayor, Alon Davidi, contacted him to receive clarifications on the matter. The mayor made clear to Gaz that statements of this kind are inappropriate, especially from a senior official in service. Gaz understood the message, expressed his apology and promised not to express himself in this way in future. In addition, Gaz published a public apology on the municipality's Facebook page."