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Last update - 22:01 21/01/2008
U.S. immigrant beaten up in 'pogrom' by ultra-Orthodox gang
By Daphna Berman, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: ultra-Orthodox, Beit Shemesh 

An American immigrant was attacked and beaten Sunday night in Beit Shemesh by a gang of ultra-Orthodox zealots, in what appears to be an escalation of tension between religious groups in the city.

T., who is himself ultra-Orthodox, was kicked, beaten and threatened with further violence in an attack that landed him in the hospital. T.'s car windows were also smashed. T., who asked to go unnamed, has been active in trying to stem the recent tide of Haredi violence in the city.

"A bunch of goons, maybe 20 or 30 guys, attacked me - it was like a pogrom," he told Haaretz. "They kicked me, beat me, and then just left me there. Luckily, I am a strong guy and was able to get up and go to the hospital."
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In response, residents of Ramat Beit Shemesh Bet, a Haredi stronghold in the city, held a protest Monday night. This was the first time ultra-Orthodox residents came out strongly against fringe elements from within their own community.

"My attackers thought they won, but there is a procession in my support," said T., who was born in New York. In recent months, Beit Shemesh residents have banded against what they call growing religious intimidation and coercion by some Haredi residents of the city.

This week, a family in one of the city's modern Orthodox neighborhoods received warnings and threats because a television in their living room faced a main thoroughfare that borders an ultra-Orthodox housing project. In October, five ultra-Orthodox men assaulted a woman and an Israel Defense Forces soldier for sitting next to each other on a bus bound for Beit Shemesh.

Signs along main streets call on people to dress modestly, meanwhile, and women say they no longer feel comfortable jogging along some roads.

T., who has since been released from the hospital, helped organize a recent protest against the violence. Sources say the attack on Sunday was a culmination of ongoing harassment.

Shalom Lerner, deputy mayor of Beit Shemesh, told Haaretz that the incident marks new heights for Haredi violence in the city.

"It's sad that they are trying to terrorize the city," Lerner said. "Unfortunately, though, the Haredi violence isn't news anymore. The fact that there is a demonstration, however, that the silent majority is standing up and fighting back, is a major achievement. People are realizing that the time for action is now."

A spokesman for the Beit Shemesh police said the case is currently under investigation.

"We have a few leads," spokesman Shmulik Ben Rubi said.


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  1.   This is only the beginning 21:10  |  Sylvie 21/01/08
  2.   I will wait till after the investigation.. then post 21:15  |  Avi 21/01/08
  3.   it is a small group of hoodlums 21:19  |  Jewish State 21/01/08
  4.   US immigrant beaten up by Ultraorthodox gang 21:26  |  Millie 21/01/08
  5.   and when they are not killing arabs they 21:39  |  muslim 21/01/08
  6.   This is why there will NEVER be peace 21:40  |  Ghandi 21/01/08
  7.   NEWS FODDER FOR ANTI RELIGIOUS HAARETZ 21:42  |  ALP 21/01/08
  8.   It`s disgusting 21:49  |  Mike 21/01/08
  9.   Haredim? no,...Meshugaim! 22:00  |  akiva (zionist) 21/01/08
  10.   GOONS BEAT UP ULTRA ORTHADOX MAN 22:00  |  AVI 21/01/08
  11.   #7 ALP 22:03  |  Fussion 21/01/08
  12.   US immigrant beaten up by Ultraorthodox gang 22:03  |  Max Samuels 21/01/08
  13.   #5, Muslim, nothing funny there. Try fixing your Koran first 22:06  |  David 21/01/08
  14.   Haredi Vulture or haredi Culture samo samo 22:07  |  al 21/01/08
  15.   Don`t try to explain this away! 22:09  |  eliyahu 21/01/08
  16.   Violence? 22:12  |  Capt Bester 21/01/08
  17.   muslim 22:13  |  sWeis Melbourne 21/01/08
  18.   Really, when you filter the details away... 22:30  |  mikita 21/01/08
  19.   The gov`t. lets them get away with murder 22:39  |  A. Landsman 21/01/08
  20.   Muslim 22:40  |  H 21/01/08
  21.   haredim and excommunication 22:52  |  leucippe 21/01/08
  22.   #3 23:06  |  Mordechai 21/01/08
  23.   Re: #3 - Jewish State 23:18  |  CS 21/01/08
  24.   Is it really religion? 23:20  |  Chris Linthwaite 21/01/08
  25.   If you`re not like us get out they say 23:23  |  Break Away 21/01/08
  26.   aredim? no,...Meshugaim! - Akiva 23:24  |  al 21/01/08
  27.   Israel has lost its soul 23:25  |  BABA 21/01/08
  28.   Its takes two to fight. 23:36  |  Wendy 21/01/08
  29.   Ultra-orthodox persecution of Christians on video 23:45  |  hollingsworth 21/01/08
  30.   Now More Than Ever . . . 23:54  |  DoubleClick 21/01/08
  31.   pogrom 00:05  |  Joe 22/01/08
  32.   Thats Why they dont want peace 00:12  |  pal 22/01/08
  33.   To #21 00:26  |  ZAK 22/01/08
  34.   They sure know how to win friends and influence people!!! 00:37  |  LOL-HAHAHA 22/01/08
  35.   "POGROM" ignorant use to describe those mindless moron gangs 00:38  |  PETER SM 22/01/08
  36.   Haredi Terrorism 01:33  |  Jez 22/01/08
  37.   DONT BLAME ALL 01:35  |  TOBIA 22/01/08
  38.   MUSLIM VER FUNNY 01:36  |  TOBIA 22/01/08
  39.   Orthadox One-State-Group thugs. 01:37  |  Thomas C. Inskip 22/01/08
  40.   Hamas in Beit Shemesh? 01:40  |  GPS 22/01/08
  41.   #5 Muslim - Ready to move to Beit Shemesh? 01:43  |  GPS 22/01/08
  42.   Hamasredi 01:55  |  Nixo 22/01/08
  43.   #6 02:03  |  Moshe 22/01/08
  44.   Embarrasment 02:21  |  Edifice 22/01/08
  45.   Religious nutcases 03:00  |  W 22/01/08
  46.   HAHA Muslim #5 03:46  |  judith 22/01/08
  47.   MUSLIM Do not depend on Jews killing each other as your brothers 04:06  |  PETER SM 22/01/08
  48.   Michael Winner give up your Sunday Times slot 04:13  |  K 22/01/08
  49.   If you do this to your own... 05:07  |  Maureen Ann 22/01/08
  50.   #15 - denouncing hooligans 07:14  |  Umm Danny 22/01/08
  51.   beaten by religion.. 07:35  |  Edithann 22/01/08
  52.   more religious values from the ultra orthodox 07:41  |  SJ 22/01/08
  53.   Iranians in my living room 08:21  |  CALM 22/01/08
  54.   This incident proofs that orthodoxy of any religion is violent 08:42  |  Aaron 22/01/08
  55.   Edithann: You blame ALL of us for this? Then go to hell! 08:46  |  S 22/01/08
  56.   To All here, MORON ANN EXEMPT:) 08:56  |  Elizabeth 22/01/08
  57.   response to #48 beaten by religion 09:03  |  CF 22/01/08
  58.   Pogrom? But not as bad as Amona 09:06  |  Ilan 22/01/08
  59.   What is really funny, is... 09:14  |  Doc Holliday 22/01/08
  60.   Maureen 09:49  |  Rab Burns 22/01/08
  61.   So Brave 09:54  |  Mark 22/01/08
  62.   #3 is Right! 09:57  |  Leah 22/01/08
  63.   Sylvie in #1 10:04  |  Ben 22/01/08
  64.   i thought the haredi were peacloving 10:25  |  moroccan 22/01/08
  65.   muslim the clown 10:25  |  coffe bob 22/01/08
  66.   #60 Rab Burns. Such behavior cannot be condoned! 10:36  |  Maureen Ann 22/01/08
  67.   I DON`T BELIEVE IT 10:56  |  Jay A Friedman 22/01/08
  68.   Tourist attraction 11:17  |  Natallie Durson 22/01/08
  69.   Aw gosh Elizabeth, don`t be exclusionist! 11:33  |  Maureen Ann 22/01/08
  70.   next thing is haredi suicide bombe 11:43  |  ben adam 22/01/08
  71.   Is avery figth a pogrom now? 11:45  |  Edith 22/01/08
  72.   #21 wasn`t that how the Jewish problems ...