The wave of arrests of yeshiva students and avrechim for studying Torah by police officers, acting in accordance with the Ombudsman's directive that the police would hand over 'deserters' to the military police, led to a sharp move by the mayor of Beitar Illit and chairman of the Haredi Authorities Forum, Meir Rubinstein.
In a letter sent today (Monday) to Police Commissioner Danny Levy, the mayors and local councils write: "We are turning to you, with great sorrow and burning pain, regarding the steps we are currently taking, in order to clarify the situation you have placed us in, with the continued arrest of Torah scholars.".
""The current situation, in which the police have become the enemy of the Haredi sector, and are hunting down yeshiva students on city streets and highways, unfortunately does not allow us to continue municipal cooperation with the police.".
The mayors announced: "Accordingly, we intend to announce the cessation of cooperation between the authorities and the Israel Police, up to and including the cancellation of all existing agreements, including the allocation of municipal buildings to police stations, the cancellation of community policing, the cancellation and freezing of all existing collaborations - including a city without violence, welfare, and other important projects. And most importantly, an announcement by the rabbis on a complete prohibition of contact between the police and leaders of the sector.".
Members of the Haredi Authorities Forum added and warned: "It is important to note that the result of the police's conduct will also result in them not fulfilling their reporting obligation, due to the lack of training with the police - which will literally put lives at risk.
""We are aware of the difficult consequences of such a decision, but if the police decided to cooperate with the irresponsible behavior of the Attorney General, a disturbed official who decided to incite one another, destroy the peace and the status quo to the core, and bring down decades of cooperation and building of responsible joint management of the police and the community, then the responsibility lies on your shoulders.".
""Your decision to arrest yeshiva students cuts off the foundation of the industry's basic and minimal cooperation with the entire sector. In this way, you are succeeding in leading the entire Haredi public, over a million people, to the path of extremism.".
Following the fact that since the appeal was made to the Commissioner last Friday - the police have not officially announced that they will stop arresting Torah students and handing them over to the military police, which leads to the police's proactive decision to stop accepting complaints from the Haredi public, therefore there is no longer a need to continue cooperation with the police - and therefore the letter is being published publicly.
Chairman of the Haredi Authorities Forum, Meir Rubinstein: "This is a difficult step, and if it is implemented, it will be very difficult to turn the wheel back and restore public trust in the police. We call on the Commissioner to reverse it and stop the arrest of Torah scholars, who protect the people of Israel and the Land of Israel with their Torah. Otherwise, we will be forced to begin taking these steps to cancel all cooperation with the police, despite the heavy price.".
""Torah scholars are more important to us than anything else, and if the police decide to comply with the dictates of the Attorney General who is persecuting Torah scholars, this is their decision to stop all cooperation with the Haredi public. Because of this, there is no longer a need to promote joint projects and allocate urban areas for the police. I sincerely hope that the Commissioner will understand the significance of these moves and stop the arrests of Torah scholars.".
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