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Nov 2, 2011

Putting An End To The Sikrikim. Finally

It looks like the war in Mea Shearim between Gur and other haredim against the sikrikim/thugs might be the straw that has broken the camels back. It seems to have really brought the issue of the sikrikim/thugs and the violence they perpetrate and pressure they use to force their way on society to the forefront. For a few days now it has been in the news over and over again, with different ministers and members of knesset, along with other public figures, all from both general society and from the haredi community commenting on the need to clamp down on the sikrikim/thugs.

The latest to weigh in on the issue is MK Amnon Cohen from SHAS. Cohen is the head of the Committee of the Interior and Environment Protection in the Knesset. I don't know what that committee deals with or why he might have influence in this matter, but Cohen said he plans to use all his power and authority to put an end to this situation and deal with the sikrikim..

MK Amnon Cohen said that MKs have come to him about being attacked by sikrikim/thugs, but the main people complaining are regular citizens, claiming the police don't seriously deal with the issue. Cohen said he would meet with the chief of police about this matter, along with the relevant legal authorities about putting an end to this. Cohen added that an old man called him up saying he no longer goes to the doctor because the bus line sno longer run through his neighborhood (to remind you, the thugs attacked Egged buses a number of times causing a lot of damage, and Egged eventually canceled all routes going through Mea Shearim. When they tried to bring the bus lines back, they were again attacked).

Relating to the complaint that the police haven't done enough, Cohen says if necessary he will help the police in every way possible to find the need funds and allocate them properly. Cohen said that "in the Knesset we only make the laws. if the police cannot deal with the problem, if necessary we will make them illegal or arrest them for their entire lives. In this fight, all means are kosher."

It has also been reported that a new authority is being put together to deal with the sikrikim situation. The initiative is within the haredi community and is because people have finally had enough of the sikrikim giving all haredi judaism a bad name, with the recent increase in violence and the loud headlines about them.

This authority will consist of members from the central hassidic groups, such as Gur, Toldos Ahron, and Toldos Avraham Yitzchak, along with a member from the Eida itself, and also a local Mea Shearim representative.

While some are skeptical that such an authority will actually be able to have any success, considering the police already have been failures at quelling the sikrikims violence, I see it as positive that finally people have had enough and are willing to try new things. Even if this group is not actually successful, perhaps they will spur the police to take more action, as they see the sikrikim affecting the lives of normal citizens. And, with perhaps increased pressure from MK Amnon Cohen, and from other MKs who have recently spoken about it, maybe finally they will work seriously to putting an end to it.

10 comments:

  1. I'm not getting it- these people are breaking the law- why aren't they being arrested by the police, tried and put into jail like every other criminal in Israel. These aren't serial killers that are impossible to find and are hiding in a country the size of the US. They never leave their 2 sq kilometer neighborhood! I can't believe it's so hard to contain these people.

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  2. dont know, but the police and local authorities have been reluctant to crack down on them. I dont know why.

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  3. Israeli authorities like to keep in their comfort zone and are frightened of rocking the boat and causing an escalation. This goes the same for how to deal with rockets from Gaza or sikrikim in Beit Shemesh. More miguniyot are always the preferred solution.

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  4. rafi (s)

    that is exactly how the haredim wanted it, the police not intervening in their lives, allowing them their little autonomy.

    as long as the community there believes in directed violence, nothing will change.

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  5. I don't understand.

    Far as I know, the Sikrikim guy was beat up by Gerrers not for having beaten other people up, but because of having gone to court to prevent Ger from building on to Battei Varsha and otherwise taking it over.

    One tactic used as well was to glue the door of the Gerrer Rebbe's son.

    Now, I fully understand that the Sikrikim are violent thugs who deserve whatever is given them, but it seems strange that another group notorious for their thuggery (Ger) and who did the beating up in this case would be part of the solution.

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  6. and that the Eida, Toldos Aharon and Toldos AY are involved are even more surprising... maybe it just shows how much people are sick of them...

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  7. This problem is not unique to Israel. The police have "no go" zones in sections of London, Paris, Dearborn, etc. In those places you also have fundamentalist minorities with violent subgroups. They are tinderboxes were the slightest misstep by the police can cause things to erupt.

    While it's lovely that all these Chareidi groups are coming together to fight the Sikrikim. They too are not free from blame, especially the Eidah. Mea Shaarim erupts very easily, and it's not always just the Sikrikim causing the mayhem. The Eidah has instigated more than their share of violent demonstrations.

    What our cities need is a Rudy Guiliani approach which uses a bottom up approach to eradicate even the smallest infractions. Of course that takes lots of police and money.

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  8. what a crock. everyone knows that israel treats the harediim worse than they even treat palestinian terrorists. As much has been posted in the comments here and across the haredi world.

    And now people are acting like the police don't crack down on harediim?

    you cant have it both ways

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  9. LOL! No way "way! The fanatic Chareidim here and in JM get away with murder. Oh sure, once in a rare while there's some sort of crackdown, but in general, no way.

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  10. i am assuming that "the way" is kidding. no one can be serious and write such junk.

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