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Haredim Battle Women at the Wall

March 21, 1989
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Ultra-Orthodox men who threw chairs at a group of women attempting to conduct services at the Western Wall themselves became the target of the Israeli police on Monday.

Police lobbed tear gas to disperse the ultra-Orthodox men, who were enraged to see about 60 women conducting group prayers at the wall.

Women representing various movements within Judaism were confronted by a line of ultra-Orthodox men blocking their way as they tried to go past the security check. Police guards intervened to allow the women get to the women’s section at the wall.

Then, some of the haredim tore down the division between the men’s and women’s sections, with some of the men hoisting chairs to throw at the women. One woman was hit on the head.

The police threw tear gas and everyone dispersed.

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