Jerusalem: Haredis destroy internet café

Dozens of ultra-Orthodox break into internet café, claiming place incites haredi community to commit sins

Haim Levinson
Published: 05.02.06, 09:26 / Israel News

Religious dispute in Jerusalem: Dozens of riled up ultra-orthodox broke into a Jerusalem internet café Monday, broke the doors and shattered the computers, claiming the place incites the haredi community to commit sins.

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On Monday night, the ultra-Orthodox crowd arrived at the internet café located in the center of the capital and began harassing other haredi people who were at the place surfing the internet. The rowdy crowd attempted to break into the place, but was unsuccessful after an employee locked the doors.

The haredi crowd shattered the glass doors, went in and broke the computers and the cash register, Israel's leading newspaper reported Tuesday.

'We won't give up'

A special police force was dispatched to the place and forcefully dispersed the crowd, arresting five men.

"They have been harassing us for six months since most of the customers here are ultra-orthodox,"

said Max, who works at the place. "We will rebuild the place and will not give up."

Thus far the ultra-Orthodox community resorted to taking pictures of the customers and intimidating them. Last week, however, rabbis of the community met and decided to escalate the fight and destroy other internet cafés.

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