The Parliament of Israel again turned down a motion to hold a debate on the construction of a swimming pool at which mixed bathing will be permitted in an area of Jerusalem chiefly inhabited by Orthodox Jews.
In recent weeks there have been numerous demonstrations by the ultra Orthodox residents of Jerusalem and frequent clashes between police and the demonstrators. A number of citizens and policemen have been injured and some of the demonstrators have been hauled off to jail.
Replying to a motion for the debate, introduced by Agudist deputy Kalman Kahane, Minister of the Interior Israel Bar Yehuda asserted that while observant Jews were given every opportunity to live according to their views, the government could not countenance their forcing their views on others. The builders of the pool, he said, were completely within the law and the government would not intervene. He also hit the Agudah for identifying itself with the Neturei Karta’s anti-government “smear” campaign.
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