Settler Movement demonstrating for "Regulation Bill"

Preparing posters for the demonstration

B"H

Here are some of the photos I took at this afternoon's demonstration. The national religious settler movement was demonstrating in favour of the REGULATION BILL the Knesset was supposed to vote for. 

Unfortunately not as many people as expected joined the demonstrations. Lets say that 1000 people were there but I guess that many other national religious Jews had to go to work and cannot just join a demonstration taking place in the middle of the day. 

The Ulpana people should have made much more publicity and instead only running a campaign in Hebrew also concentrated on English speakers. Handing out brochures in Hebrew and opening a facebook page in Hebrew is not enough. While running a protest, you have to work out a justification campaign in English too. A blog and / or website would be an additional idea ! Don't underestimate today's media world !

When I walked into the protest tent at around 11am this morning, some of the national religious protesters showed their doubt whether the haredi Knesset parties would join them. Rabbi Ovadia Yosef had ordered his SHASS party to vote against the bill but, in the end, the SHASS Knesset members just stayed away from the vote in order not to vote at all. The protesters foresaw this behaviour and didn't trust the Haredim although they would be anxious having them as protestors too. Someone said that SHASS may be too busy taking care of the TAL LAW ensuring young haredi Yeshiva students not to be drafted into the Israeli army. 

In the end, the bill failed but not only due to the haredi parties (SHASS and Yahadut HaTorah). Netanyahu's ministers, LIKUD members and coalition members got too afraid and didn't show any guts against the Prime Minister. They preferred to keep their positions and seats instead of standing up for our country. Why do we have to vote at all when Knesset members just care about themselves, their money and their position ? Including SHASS. Israel Eichler from Chassidut Belz, at least, had a reason for not supporting the settlers: Certain national religious Knesset members made a big fuss against Haredim in the past. The religious Zionist always bash Haredim when it comes to "joining the army".

Instead of being united, the religious parties fight each other and thus help Netanyahu. The bill could have changed the settlement situation into something more positive and legal but by rejecting the bill, everything just remains the same mess. Netanyahu won and all the other Knesset members (except for 22 of them showing courage) "shit their pants". Excuse my words !!!

The junction between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bank of Israel and the Supreme Court down to the Knesset was blocked by the national religious youth movement. However, the roads were not completely blocked, as the left - wing press is telling you. The youth only blocked the roads with posters as soon as the traffic lights turned RED for the cars. When the lights switched to GREEN, the youth immediately left the roads and let the cars pass.

Journalists are gathering. What I noticed was that various journalists were blocking the roads themselves while the youth movement did not. What the media was looking for were headlines and therefore, many times, it was them blocking the roads. Thus we could see what a journalist does for a headline.

Red light for the traffic: The youth blocked the road and protested

Green light for the cars: The youth left the road and let the traffic pass.

In the end, the police closed the road down to the Knesset. However, there was no need for the cops to interfere, as it was a peaceful demonstration.

Settlements disappear and Palestinians spread.

Inside the protest tent

Photos: Miriam Woelke

The "Jonathan Pollard Van"

The only solution is Meshiach ben David, Tehillim verses and Shema Israel. I didn't really understand whether this all refers to Jonathan Pollard or if the car is just a huge bumper sticker.:-)

I am not too much with Jonathan Pollard but the van caught my attention when I saw it at the present protest tent of the national religious movement taking place between Israel's Supreme Court and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jerusalem. The national religious are protesting against the evacuation of Beit El's ULPANA neighbourhood. However, I am planning to write much more on issue and the protest itself.

Photos: Miriam Woelke

36 Times SCHICKSE

I know the guy is nuts but the video is funny. However, not for the woman being yelled at. She tried to talk to the madman but he didn't give her a chance. Men like him always give the impression that they have a psychological problem with women. 

Commentary from Youtube: He is shouting this at a secular Jewish Israeli woman who stood there watching a haredim demonstration in Jaffa against a construction site where they claim some ancient human bones were unearthed. She was NOT provokingly dressed.

Tonight in Mea Shearim ...

Mass demonstration against the ongoing secular media propaganda towards haredi society

I don't see it as appropriate letting children participate in the demonstration. And especially not in the form of victims with stars from the Third Reich !

More Photos HERE !

Haredi Demonstration against government taking over Rashbi Kever

 See more photos HERE !

B”H 

Thousands were demonstrating at Jerusalem’s Kikar Shabbat tonight. The Israeli government is planning to turn the Kever of the Rashbi (Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai) in Meron into an international tourist site. Meaning that the Ministry of Tourism wants to ship thousands of Christians from all over the world to the holy site. 

Can anyone explain to me what Christian have to do with the Tanna Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai ? If Rabbi Shimon knew this, he would beat the Christians from his grave site as fast as he could. 

Tonight, the Edah HaCharedit was demonstrating at Kikar Shabbat (Ge’ulah / Mea Shearim. The Toldot Aharon Rebbe was there, as well as his brother, the Toldot Avraham Yitzchak Rabbe. Further participants: The Rebbe of Rachmastrivka, Pinsk – Karlin, Stropkov, Mishkenot HaRoim, Rabbi Wosner and many others.

Demonstration against 40,000 Africans in Tel Aviv, Part 1

B”H  

There is not much to write about. Tonight's demonstration, organized by Israel's right, is over. A demonstration against thousands of illegal Africans in Tel Aviv but we didn't hear any solution for the problem. 

When I arrived at the demonstration at about 6.30pm, a policeman sent me to the wrong meeting point. At the Levinsky Park, right across Tel Aviv's Central Bus Station, about 100 Africans started gathering together with a handful white people. Israel's left - wingers were organizing a counter demonstration and the head - leftists started giving his commands: The right - wingers are going to arrive any minute and no one should fall for any provocation nor respond to anything. 

As soon as the right showed up, I changed sides.  Baruch Marzel as well as Knesset Member Michael Ben Ari arrived with about 100 participants. “Sudanim le’Sudan – Sudanese to Sudan” – the right - wingers shouted. Israel's left yelled back "You are all rassists !" Baruch Marzel and Michael Ben Ari had shipped in their own people and I really missed people from Tel Aviv demonstrating. Not only the national religious from Marzel brought in from Hebron or elsewhere but real inhabitants from the surrounding Tel Aviv neighbourhoods. Inhabitants from Neve She’anan, Shechunat HaTikvah or HaAliyah Street up to Florentin. There are plenty of people from the neighbourhoods speaking up against the Africans but they didn't show up at the Marzel - Ben Ari demonstration.  Who did show up was the media. 

After a Russian doctor, a new immigrant, had given the first speech, it was the turn of Baruch Marzel. 40,000 African (most of the illegal) live in Tel Aviv and neither the Prime Minister nor Ron Chulda'i (the Mayor of Tel Aviv) do anything.  What no one mentioned tonight: Netanyahu is extremely friendly with Israel's business leaders and it is them convincing the Prime Minister that the Africans should stay. Israel's companies (e.g. the hotel industry in Eilat or at the Dead Sea, Tel Aviv restaurants ) love using the Africans as cheap labour. They earn millions by exploiting Africans instead of giving the jobs to Israelis who would demand a much higher salary.

Baruch Marzel as well as the following speaker, Michael Ben Ari, accused Netanyahu of being guilty that every day, another few hundred Africans are able to infiltrate into Israel. Ron Chulda'i should throw Africans children out of Israeli schools and not send Africans to Israeli hospitals for health checks and thus letting the Israeli tax payer pay for illegals who have nothing to do in our country. 

In the meantime, the left - wingers together with about 100 Africans moved closer and placed themselves across the right - wing demonstration. Police and the army border police were standing in the middle and trying to separate the two groups.

No one was offering a solution but more and more Africans started showing up. Many of them were curious about what was going on. A few African junkies were staggering around but the majority was peaceful. About two hundred meters far away, prostitutes started opening the doors to their "businesses". Rightists and leftists yelled at each other and Baruch Marzel as well as Michael Ben Ari gave interviews. 

What should I say ? That was about it and tomorrow, another few hundred Africans will stream into Israel. 

Here are a few photos in order to give you an impression. I took quite a few pictures and will publish them in parts.

Africans and Israel's left gathering for a counter demonstration. 

The right is coming. With beard and Kipa: Baruch Marzel.

Baruch Marzel giving his speech.

Michael Ben Ari speaking.

Michael Ben Ari being interviewed by the Israeli Russian TV.

The Africans

The army border police

 

A few hundred meters further away: Africans in Finn Street. After getting dark, this area looks like Africa.

Copyright / Photos: Miriam Woelke

The Edah HaCharedit demonstrating at the house of Yoelish Kroisz

B"H

Everyone ready for a great laugh ? Then watch the video in this article. Last night, the Edah HaCharedit was demonstrating in front of the house of the local Mea Shearim Neturei Karta leader Yoelish Kroisz. Reason: Kroisz supports the Jewish "Taliban" women who the Israeli press calls "Women with the Shawls". 

I think it is very funny seeing Mrs Kroisz throwing water at the demonstrators. And, by the way, who is Yoelish calling on his cellphone ? The Zionist police ?

The entrance to his Beit Midrash shows some security guys without Kipot and some are hiding their faces. Police or a private security service ?

Mea Shearim: Demonstrations against "Taliban" Women

B"H

After Shabbat was over, once again, garbage cans started burning in Mea Shearim. The inhabitants are fed up with the Jewish "Taliban" women and all those Rabbis supporting them. Demonstrations are taking place in front of the Beit Midrash of Rabbi Rumpler as well as in front of the house of Yoelish Kroisz from the local Neturei Karta.

Rothschild Boulevard almost free of Tents

B”H 

There are still a few tents left at Rothschild Boulevard in Tel Aviv. The demostration against high rents and unaffordable costs of living has not yet died. Those people who are really homeless and without money keep on staying although most tents have disappeared. The seven heads of the protest, however, have left long ago and try managing their own little resistance. Together with their left - wing organizers and supporters. 

Just recently, those seven invited Tel Aviv's Mayor Ron Chulda’i to an open discussion. The Mayor showed up but as soon as he entered, the protestors called him by some bad names and told him to leave. Chulda'i left but told the press that he is not offended, as there is not real head of the protest to talk to.

Hopefully the Municipality will provide some shelter for the homeless staying at Rothschild Boulevard. 

What's left ? African workers cleaning up Rothschild Boulevard.

Photos 12 September 2011: Miriam Woelke

Haredi Protests against national religious "OROT" school in Beit Shemesh

Photo: Tzedek Tzedek

B"H

Its been going on for a while now: Haredi "Kana'im" have been demonstrating in front of the national religious "OROT BANOT" girl's school.

Every day, a small group of Haredim (those Haredim who have a stricter opinion on modesty) have been gathering in front of the national religious girl's school OROT. The school itself says that it has a 40 % amount of English speaking students. In general, the English speaking population among the national religious in Beit Shemesh is quite high. In fact, there is an entire neighbourhood not too far away from the haredi part of the town which is almost entirely anglo saxon.

People I know in Beit Shemesh (from Chassidut Toldot Avraham Yitzchak) told me more than once that the national religious hate the Haredim at the other side of the bridge separating the two neighbourhoods. The national religious aren't too religious but extremely modern and always try to provoke the haredi population. 

I am not a specialist in the field of the Israeli school system but OROT in Beit Shemesh calls itself "Mamlachti Dati" school. Meaning a state - religious school. Can anyone please explain to me what the difference between those OROT girls and the NOAM girls is ! Is BANOT NOAM maybe stricter ?

The Haredim, however, don't like the national religious school too close to their neighbourhood, as the Dati Le'umi girls wouldn't be too modest and thus spread modern and immodest ideas in the area. It is hard to figure out who is right when people don't really now what kind of a school OROT is. Strict or just plain modern Orthodox national religious. The kind where girls wear jeans under their skirts and prefer the Carlebach style more than NOAM girls.

The national religious published this VIDEO showing the haredi Kana'im in action. From what I see is that the national religious are also provoking the haredi demonstrators in order to get some good pictures.

The Lubavitcher Rebbe and Rabbi Israel Odesser have arrived at the Tent Demonstration

The tent demonstration at Tel Aviv's Rothschild Boulevard is still around but abandoned. No people except for some Junkies and Hippies. The heads of the demonstrations as well as their leftist organizers follow other goals and were just using the slogan "Social Justice" for their own purposes to overthrow the government. However, Communist ideas are not very popular in Israel. It goes without saying that rents are too high and it is extremely hard to make a living; but getting the extreme left involved is not a solution. 

The demonstration has killed itself right from the beginning. The organizers are planning a last huge demonstration for this Mozzaei Shabbat (Saturday night) and want about one million people participating. Last Shabbat, however, the nationwide demonstrations only had a few thousand demonstrators. In Eilat only 100 hundred people or less. 

Today I went to Rothschild Boulevard and what I found was the Lubavitcher Rebbe and Rabbi Israel Odesser. No doubt, the Chabad Meshichistim as well as the Breslover Na Nach Movement have been around spreading their messages.:-)

Rosh Hashana 5772 poster from the Na Nach Movement.

And here comes the Lubavitcher Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson.

Copyright / Photos: Miriam Woelke

Rothschild Boulevard is Dead

B”H

Already a week ago I noticed what was going on when I looked at all the empty tents. The protestors for social justice were leaving and it doesn't matter how much money left - wing organizations are willing to invest. In general, Israeli demonstrators start loosing their interest fast. There are various reasons: The head demonstrators start playing the big boss and discover the media only for themselves. People start fighting among each other and others are just sick of being together with loonies all the time. 

This morning I went to the Rothschild Boulevard in Tel Aviv and the masses are gone. Plenty of empty tents filled with drunk homeless and drug addicts. This is what is remaining. Not to forget all the tons of garbage.  The demonstrators claim that their protest will continue but, at the moment, the weather in Tel Aviv is too hot and Israel's security situation is not the best.

No one there except Hippies and Junkies. 

Photos 22 August 2011: Miriam Woelke

Picture of the Day

Monday, 15 August 2011 about 12pm: Tent demonstration at Rothschild Boulevard in Tel Aviv. 

Photo: Miriam Woelke

Rothschild Boulevard inhabitants are slowly freaking out

 

B”H

Tonight, the second Israeli TV channel reported: The inhabitants of Tel Aviv's Rothschild Boulevard are slowly freaking out because for the past month, the tent protesters have been doing their private shitting businesses in the gardens and entrances of the private building in the street. There are Dixie plastic toilets set up for the demonstrators but they are disgusting and insufficient. Apparently the people living in tents prefer sitting behind a tree in the neighbour's garden.

Bongo and guitar noise until 3 or 4am in the morning. Tel Aviv's Junkies and criminals have been gathering in Rothschild now and started moving into some tents. The whole area turned into a garbage dumb and when the inhabitants complain to the demonstrators, they are being shown the finger. 

People who live in Rothschild have to get up in the morning and go to work but don't have any peace and night. Noise, screams, singing. This doesn't surprise me because I see the demonstrators sleeping until noon. They don't work but demand financial support from the government.

 

Yesterday at around 12pm at Rothschild Boulevard: How about going to work and earning a living ?

Photos: Miriam Woelke