Extremists attack Shas rally in Modiin Illit with tear gas

A violent disturbance broke out motzei Shabbos in Modiin Illit during a Shas rally attended by Rav Yoram Seri and dozens of yeshiva bochurim from the city.

Extremists forced their way toward the beis medrash where the gathering was held, smashed windows and hurled tear gas at those inside. Three people were lightly injured by the gas and treated at the scene.

According to participants, additional rioters gathered outside the building and attempted to break in, prompting organizers to lock the doors of the beis medrash. MK Yonatan Mishriki, who arrived for the event, was not permitted to enter and left the area.

Rav Seri was forced to leave the venue because of the violence. Members of the city council escorted him out and shielded him physically as he departed.

During the rally, Rav Seri addressed the Hatzibur HaCharedi, the Chareidi Public Party and the messaging it promotes in its advertising. The rav claimed the party is funded by left-wing elements with the goal of fracturing chareidi society.

"It's simple. Don't be confused. It's certainly like that. And I have no doubt that whoever is funding this party is the left," Rav Seri said.

He went on to discuss the scope of the party's advertising campaign: "And I have no doubt that there's a lot of money there. A huge amount of money, because you see how much these ads cost? That he's running. I'm embarrassed to see it, that yellow."

The rav also addressed slogans appearing in the party's materials: "'Whoever doesn't work and whoever doesn't learn should go to the army, we protect those who learn' --- it's all lies and falsehood, it's all from the left."

He clarified that his claims are based on information he heard from people involved in the matter: "I have no doubt about it, I hear from people who understand, who somehow know it from the inside. Rav Yaakov Asher said it explicitly, that he knows from the inside."

He concluded with a firm statement: "And they're funding it in order to fracture chareidi society, there's no doubt in the world about it. Don't be confused and don't make a mistake and don't judge favorably and don't understand that there's another opinion and so on, that's simply not the issue."