Anonymous arsonists torched the main UTJ distribution center
late Saturday night (parshas Beshalach) in Jerusalem's
Givat Shaul neighborhood, burning large quantities of printed
publicity material for the election campaign.
A large number of firefighters and investigators arrived at
the scene, managing to control the flames before the fire
spread to other parts of the central warehouse. Police and
fire officials are currently investigating the causes of the
fire.
Distribution Director R' Shmuel Eliashiv as well as the other
heads of UTJ's central election staff who arrived at the
distribution center were stunned at the sight of the
warehouses damaged by the attack. According to reports, the
words, "Revenge, Baruch Marzel," were found scrawled near the
burned structure.
Meanwhile anti-religious instigation by enemy parties has
taken its toll in Jerusalem. Last week young, secular
antagonists drove through Bayit Vegan, Mattersdorf and other
chareidi neighborhoods, throwing eggs at yeshiva students as
they crossed the street and shouting, "Yeish Shinui!"
Police, responding to complaints, have been unable to locate
these young hoodlums and have asked anyone who witnesses such
an incident to take down the license number and report it
immediately.
In another incident last month two avreichim were
walking towards Bayit Vegan on Shabbos afternoon. As they
crossed the street at an intersection near Shaarei Tzedek
Hospital, a young passenger in a passing car rolled down the
window and hurled a treif food item at one of the
pedestrians, whose suit was dirtied.
These acts of provocation toward the chareidi sector come on
the heels of venomous campaign broadcasts sponsored by Tommi
Lapid's Shinui Party. Chareidi public figures say these
events offer proof of claims voiced for years that incitement
by certain party leaders has created a powerful anti-chareidi
atmosphere that has even led to acts of abuse against
innocent victims. Public figures say if strong measures are
not taken soon to counter these incidents we could see actual
violence toward chareidi citizens by young, secular, anti-
religious hotheads.
