The basic issue is the insistence by the Orthodox that the growing secular community conform to their way of life. The non-observant change religious coercion by the municipal leaders who are Orthodox. The immediate cause of the disturbances was the municipal swimming pool which is open six days a week–three days for men and three days for women. The secular community has not demanded that the pool be kept open on the Sabbath but they insist that it be open to men and women on the some days so that families can enjoy the facility together.
The Orthodox will not tolerate mixed swimming. The Orthodox also force all children in the town to attend a religious school — the only one in Netivot. The non-religious population has demanded its right to a secular, co-educational school. Otherwise, they are forced to send their youngsters to schools in other communities which poses problems and expenses in addition to the taxes they pay in Netivot.
These conflicts come to a head Friday night when secular Jews demonstrated in protest against the local authorities and were confronted by large numbers of yeshiva students. First-fights broke out on the main street. Police restored order but the brawl erupted agains on Saturday.
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.
