Eda Chareidis Leader Travels To Gush Etzion Protest Against Archaeologists Digging Burial Caves

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — The head of the Eda Chareidis, Rabbi Yitzchak Tuvia Weiss(95) travelled to the Gush Etzion region Wednesday to demonstrate against an archaeological dig which members of the community maintain is damaging Jewish tombs in the area.

In the last few days a number of members of the community have conducted a protest vigil at the site, claiming that archaeologists are digging in burial caves where Jews are buried. The protests, which were initially small, have led to clashes between the protesters and police.

The current demonstration organized by the community has some 1000 protesters. Police used stun grenades in an attempt to disperse the protesters, who spread out over a number of hills. Stun grenades were also thrown at the entourage of Rabbi Weiss in an attempt to prevent the protesters from congregating around the cars. Rabbi Yaakov Meir Shechter, a prominent leader of the Breslov community is also expected to attend the demonstration.

גאב"ד העדה החרדית הגרי"ט יצא לפני זמן קצר מביתו כדי להשתתף בהפגנה.
בנוסף צפויים להשתתף הגרי"מ שכטר, מרבני ברסלב הבולטים והאדמו"ר ממשכנות הרועים. https://t.co/ovq8ItGets

— שימי שפר (@Shimishafer) June 23, 2021

Six of the protesters were hurt by the stun grenades and one was taken to hospital for treatment. Ten of the protesters were arrested. One of the protesters showed how his tzitzis had been singed by the stun grenades.