Religious tensions are running high in Beit Shemesh, as chareidim and the dati leumi and secular community are at odds. Tensions were renewed recently when a chareidi youth hurled a rock at a woman because she believed she was not modestly dressed. The woman was hospitalized as a result with non-life-threatening injuries.

This led to secular and dati leumi residents of the city uniting, protesting over the attack.

Anti-religious elements in the city on Lag B�Omer disturbed the bonfire of chareidim and injured HaGaon HaRav Natan Kupshitz. His talmidim report rocks were thrown at the rav as well as a number of other mispallalim in the Beit Knesset.

(YWN � Israel Desk, Jerusalem)