Some Ethiopian families and women were left without a shelter during Iran’s attacks on Jerusalem after an extremist haredi faction took over a public shelter and declared it “men’s only,” Ynet reported on Monday.
Members of the extremist group reportedly spat on the families when they attempted to enter the shelter.
While police were reportedly called to the scene, the support they provided was short-lived, according to the report. The extremist group allegedly continued their assaults after the police left.
The State Comptroller located a new, closer public shelter for the families discriminated against by the shelter, according to the report. One woman complained that when she went to the shelter, she discovered it was locked and was told that the shelter was for “men only.”
Police action
After learning of the incident, State Comptroller Matanyahu Engelman reportedly spoke with Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion. The municipal police then attended the scene with the woman and gave her a key and emergency contact information so that she could access the shelter and support should more problems arise.
Police, under the guidance of the State Comptroller's Office, reportedly spoke with local rabbis and synagogue leaders about the issue, hoping they could dissuade their followers from the aforementioned behaviors.
Denying access to a shelter during an attack is a criminal offence.