Reconciliation Effort Underway After Arson Attack on Synagogue in Tel Aviv Shocks Israel

The government is trying hard to effect a reconciliation between nonreligious and religious Jews in Israel in the aftermath of an arson attack on a Tel Aviv synagogue Wednesday which shocked the country.

Although damage to the Bnei Benjamin synagogue was minor, the act was clearly in retaliation for the wave of arson and spray paint attacks on bus shelters in Jerusalem and other cities by ultra-Orthodox zealots who have declared war on what they consider “indecent” advertising posters.

A note was posted on the door of the torched synagogue by a group that calls itself “People Against the Ultra-Religious. ” The note said, “for every bus shelter, a synagogue.”

Knesset Speaker Shlomo Hillel said the synagogue arson raised memories “of the worst experience of the Jewish people.” He also condemned the attacks on the bus shelters and observed, “When a member of the Knesset condoned the spraying and even declared that he would do the same himself, this was incitement to lawlessness.”

KNESSET OUTBURSTS

Hillel, a Laborite, was referring to a remark by Aguda Israel MK Menachem Porush who shouted that the Speaker was a “liar.” This prompted Yossi Sarid of the leftist Civil Rights Movement (CRM) to call the Orthodox MK a “thug.” Sarid was removed from the chamber by ushers. Hillel adjourned the session but MKs continued to hurl invectives at each other for some time afterwards.

The incident in the Knesset where raucous outbursts are hardly unknown served to emphasize a schism in Israeli society that has existed since the State was formed but has grown more serious of late.

Premier Shimon Peres announced Wednesday that he intended to convene without delay a meeting of religious and secular leaders to prevent further confrontations between observant and non-observant Jews. Among the invitees are Israel’s two Chief Rabbis, the mayors of the major cities, members of all coalition factions and representatives of the media.

WIDENING GAP

But the gap between the two camps is widening. Peres was confronted with a demand by the Chief Rabbis that the status quo on religious affairs be frozen by law for 20 years. The status quo is an unwritten agreement allowing the Orthodox establishment to control many aspects of public and private life in Israel.

Secular spokesmen contend that the status quo has been stretched over the years to give the religious camp ever more power though it represents barely 20 percent of Israel’s population.

Secular leaders, such as Communications Minister Amnon Rubinstein also deplored the synagogue arson. Rubinstein protested Wednesday against attempts to place religious and non-religious extremists on the same level.

Whereas setting fire to the synagogue was a “despicable act of one person, ” there has been an organized campaign by the ultra-Orthodox against the State and its laws, he said.

Many of the religious vandals arrested for defacing bus shelters are members of the Neturei Karta sect which holds that a Jewish State established before the advent of the Messiah is illegitimate and its laws are not to be obeyed.

PERES SEEKS TO AVOID CONFRONTATION

Peres called a special meeting of ministers Wednesday afternoon and it was decided that all necessary measures would be taken to end violence by “a relatively small group.” The Prime Minister, however, seems determined to avoid an all-out confrontation with the Orthodox community. He is believed to fear that an “iron fist” against religious extremists would rally the more moderate religious elements in their support.

An indication that such a development is possible was seen in the repeated statements by leaders of the religious community, such as Interior Minister Yitzhak Peretz and Aguda MK Porush, justifying the attacks on the advertising posters.

Even the law enforcement authorities have taken a conciliatory approach. Police Inspector General David Kraus told the Knesset Interior Committee Wednesday that Orthodox Jews have a “lawful basis” to protest advertisements that offend their religious sensibilities. Noting that Orthodox Jews also use bus shelters, he said the ads could be seen as “coercion against religious people.”

KOLLEK CRITICAL OF POLICE

The new Attorney General, Yosef Harish, said Wednesday that those who attack bus shelters should be punished to the full extent of the law. But he added that provocative posters should not be put up in religious neighborhoods. The vandals, however, have ranged far from their neighborhoods to burn or deface bus shelters.

Mayor Teddy Kollek of Jerusalem is disturbed by what he sees as insufficiently forceful action by the police against ultra-Orthodox vandals. He warned Tuesday that if the religious zealots are not punished, extremists on the other side would take revenge. His warning was confirmed by the Tel Aviv synagogue arson.

President Chaim Herzog maintained Wednesday that this latest act was isolated. “You have lunatics and nuts everywhere, in every society, and let’s not see this out of context,” he said. He warned however that “When you created the atmosphere in which lunatics can operate, then you have created a very dangerous atmosphere.”

HERZOG INITIATES ACTION

Herzog has called on ultra-Orthodox leaders to join a forum he organized to reduce tension between religious and secular Jews. Its first meeting was boycotted by representatives of the Aguda Israel and extreme Orthodox circles.

“I hope they will realize that this is not a time to be choosy,” Herzog said. He said he put himself and the presidential residence at the disposal of anybody who wants to effect a dialogue and reduce tensions. In a Voice of Israel Radio interview, Herzog warned that “The recent developments of extremism in the Israeli society are most alarming indeed. This is a time for us to take stock of what is happening in our society. Violence breeds violence and there is not enough dialogue.” (By Gil Sedan)