Police Confiscate Surveillance Cameras At Belz Center To Monitor Violations Of Regulations

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — As part of Israel’s battle against coronavirus violations in the chareidi sector, plainclothes detectives from the Jerusalem District station arrived Sunday at the center of Belz chasidim in Jerusalem to monitor violations which occurred during the festival period.

Previously police had interrogated senior members of a number of chasidic groups which reportedly held mass events in violation of regulations. The main groups under investigation are Belz, Slonim, Breslov, Toldos Aharon and Toldos Avraham Yitzchak.

In the past police fined the leading organizers in the chasidic groups but these fines were easily paid and did not create a deterrent. Police hope that indictments on charges of spreading the virus will have a stronger effect.

The policemen who arrived at Belz produced a warrant allowing them to enter and then removed the surveillance cameras in an attempt to find documentation of mass gatherings during the period of the lockdown which continued until a week after the festival period.

The Belz chasidic group was in the news recently as it was reported that the Belzer Rebbe had contracted coronavirus two months before and had been in serious condition but was treated in his home.