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Orthodox Extremists Renew Demonstrations in Jerusalem

February 28, 1958
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Once again today police reinforcements were called out in Jerusalem to halt a crowd of Neturei Karta demonstrators protesting the building of a swimming pool with facilities for mixed bathing in an area adjoining the section where the ultra-Orthodox Jews live.

After an open air meeting in the religious quarter, at which psalms were sung and speakers attacked the government and Zionists, hundreds of Neturei Karta members marched into the main street of the southern portion of this city. They carried banners and picket signs denouncing the pool as an “abomination.”

As they approached the vicinity of the nearly completed pool, they were halted by a police barrier. Disregarding police instructions to disperse, leaders attempted to cross the barrier and clashed with police. Fists flew, water hoses sprayed and finally the crowd broke under police pressure. Several policemen were reported injured and a score of the demonstrators were arrested.

The Israel Supreme Court, meanwhile, upheld the right of the Tel Aviv city government to ban the sale of pork products and the raising of hogs, in line with a recent national law giving local governments this authority. The law had been challenged by a Christian Arab butcher.

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