Neturei Karta cause trouble
Why did Ben Gvir’s trip to Beit Shemesh spiral into a street showdown? WATCH
It started with a Palestinian flag on a wall. It ended with chants, tension, and the minister calling out anti-Zionist Jews.
Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir arrived in Beit Shemesh on Thursday and was amazed to discover PLO flags painted on the wall of one of the buildings.
The minister asked that the flag be erased, and in response, "dozens or hundreds" of Neturei Karta began to surround him, all while he was surrounded by Shin Bet security guards who protect him because he is a threatened figure.
His office described the incident: "Minister Ben Gvir and his wife Ayala were attacked by dozens of Neturei Karta in Beit Shemesh, when the minister noticed drawings of PLO flags on walls during a random drive and stopped there in order to update the police on the matter.
Dozens of Neturei Karta came out at him shouting "Zionist," "Murderer," "You're in favor of enlisting in the army," "Get out of here," and trying to attack the minister, when his wife Ayala was attacked by a woman. Minister Ben Gvir replied to the rioters, "This is the State of Israel, the police will enforce the law here as well!"
Minister Ben-Gvir said in response to the incident: "We came here to Beit Shemesh, there are PLO flags here, shame and disgrace, that in the neighborhood here in the State of Israel it exists. As soon as I arrived, I was surrounded here by dozens, maybe hundreds of Neturei Karta, I'm not afraid of them, they're against the state, they're against the army, I despise them, there won't be a situation where Beit Shemesh will be an ex-territory. There are a lot of good ultra-Orthodox residents here, a lot of excellent national-religious residents, Beit Shemesh won't be an ex-territory, period."
The Israel Police said: "The Israel Police is acting resolutely in Ramat Beit Shemesh, and is also using stun grenades, batons and other means in order to control the extremists from Karta who waved PLO flags and tried to attack Minister Ben Gvir who arrived at the scene.
In another incident, the wife of Minister Ayala Ben-Gvir was violently attacked by a Neturei Karta activist who slapped her, Ayala defended herself and slapped her back."