Neturei Karta demonstrators clashed today with Jerusalem police in a stone-throwing, howling protest against a nearly-completed open air swimming pool in Jerusalem. Ten police were injured in the melee by flying stones. Ten of the most vociferous of the ultra-Orthodox zealots were arrested and ten others who resisted arrest were injured in scuffles with the police.
Several hundred demonstrators congregated in a mass meeting which was addressed by leaders who shouted invectives against the State of Israel, the municipality and the promoters of the pool, denouncing the fact that mixed bathing will be permitted. The leaders invoked a curse on all who “countenanced” the pool and the assembly roared an “amen.” When the meeting ended, the assembly had grown to 3,000 persons who began to march in masses toward the center of Jerusalem.
Police tried to divert the marchers from the main traffic streets and the marchers responded with violence. Police reinforcements were hastily called up to deal with a shower of stones and sticks from the demonstrators who smashed down police lines. About half of the demonstrators succeeded in reaching the Town Hall where they shouted invectives against the city fathers for licensing the pool.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
