Woman wearing veil refused entry into swimming pool

Bedouin family wishing to spend day in southern town of Ofakim told they would only be able to enter pool after mother removes her veil. Pool owner: I didn't want her to cause the other bathers to flee

Anat Bereshkovsky |Published: 08.20.07 , 00:53

The Malahi family from the Bedouin town of Rahat only wanted to spend a day of fun at the Ofakim swimming pool on Sunday. After the father paid the entry fee and the three children were about to jump into the water, the pool owner told them that they would not be able to enter the place before the mother removes her veil.

For the children of the Malahi family – 3-year-old Yakim, 7-year-old Muhammad and 10-year-old Eitam – this was the first day this summer they were about to spend at the swimming pool in the southern town of Ofakim.

The father, Kayed Malahi, a teacher, told Ynet, "All we wanted was to spend the day at the Ofakim pool, which is the closest one to our town of Rahat."

The pool owner, Zion Peretz, tried to convince the family members to remove the mother's veil, but Kayed refused to be humiliated and discriminated against.

"As we drove home, two of the children could not stop crying," he said.

'I decided not to allow Bedouins in this year'

Talking to Ynet, Peretz explained, "Following the damages I suffered last year, such as broken chairs and harassment by the other bathers, I decided not to allow Bedouins to enter the pool this year. However, I leave the pool open for them after the hours of activity, starting at 5 pm."

When the Malahi family arrived, he said, the mother was asked to remove her veil in order "not to cause the other bathers to flee."

According to Peretz, his clients refuse to spend time at the pool along with their Bedouin neighbors. "I am caught between the Devil and the deep blue sea. I am not here to fight; I only want to run a swimming pool. I respect them, but I have a reason from not letting them enter."

Kayed Malahi said in response that it was the pool owner's right not to allow people who misbehave and cause a commotion into the pool, but that he and his family were dignified people.

The Malahi family children, whose day of fun at the pool was ruined, only calmed down after Kayed promised to take them to the beach during the weekend.