Confrontations over a kindergarten building in Bnei Brak's Pardes Katz neighbourhood continued Sunday morning, with police detaining a Kisei Rachamim maintenance worker after one person was injured in clashes between the institution's supporters and members of the Peleg Yerushalmi.
The dispute centres on a gan building on Abarbanel Street. According to Kisei Rachamim sources, police had brokered an agreement under which Peleg Yerushalmi would vacate the building on Sunday rather than Friday as originally planned. The maintenance worker arrived at the site as part of his regular duties, unaware of the arrangement or the change in the evacuation date, the sources said.
The background to the dispute is a decision by Bnei Brak mayor Chanoch Zeibert to allow Peleg Yerushalmi to use the building, with a promise to find Kisei Rachamim an alternative location. No solution has yet been found.
Attorney Rafael Tzik, representing the detained worker, said: "My client, a dedicated maintenance worker, arrived at the gan site in the course of his professional duties to repair damaged partitions and ensure the daily routine and safety of the children at the location.
"Unfortunately, a confrontation developed at the site that was not of his making, and my client acted out of a sense of responsibility to calm tempers and prevent escalation and violence in the vicinity of young children. My client used no violence whatsoever, but found himself trying to prevent damage to property and to those present while carrying out his work.
"My client cooperated fully with the authorities and gave an orderly and detailed account. We are confident that after examination of all the testimonies and documentation from the site, it will become clear that he acted properly and the investigation file concerning him will be closed promptly."
