Scare tactics plague Beit Shemesh mayoral race

With nationwide municipal elections just one day away, the mayoral race in Beit Shemesh signifies for many the last battle over the city's character. Over the past few years, the ultra-Orthodox community's grip on the city has grown stronger, leaving its religious Zionist, traditional, and secular residents feeling like their city is slipping away.

Some in the Beit Shemesh haredi community did not hesitate to assault women walking down streets in the city's religious neighborhood in what they considered immodest attire. One infamous incident involved 8-year-old Naama Margolese, who, two years ago, was spat on because the skirt she was wearing was not long enough.

Beit Shemesh Mayor Moshe Abutbul, a member of the ultra-Orthodox Shas party, is seeking a second term in office and has "recruited" the party's late spiritual leader, Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, to help him garner votes, using his image as part of his campaign mere days after the latter's death.

Abutbul's rival in the election is Eli Cohen, the former deputy-director of the Jewish Agency who, until recently, served as the vice president of Mekorot, the national water company. Cohen represents the religious Zionist, traditional, and secular residents of the city.

The haredi local media in the city has recently resorted to scare tactics to ensure the haredi voters' support of Abutbul, and have even made sure that Rabbi Aharon Leib Shteinman, one of the most prominent leaders of the ultra-Orthodox public, publicly endorse Abutbul, while denouncing Cohen.

Pre-election polls predict a tight race in Beit Shemesh. Cohen's campaign aims to encourage as many of the city's secular and religious Zionist residents to vote, to offset what is likely to be high voter turnout among the haredi public.

Insiders in Cohen's campaign claim that ultra-Orthodox voters who expressed their support for the non-haredi candidate have been subject to harassment and violence. Cohen himself was attacked and spat on during a visit to the haredi stronghold Ramat Beit Shemesh.

A recent poll has found that 32 percent of the city's secular and religious Zionist residents said they would consider leaving Beit Shemesh if Abutbul is re-elected.

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