The Beit Shemesh Likud branch responded today (Wednesday) to the recent events in Beit Shemesh, in which the city's mayor, Aliza Bloch, was attacked by zealots, stating: "We strongly condemn." However, they placed the responsibility for the events squarely on Bloch herself, blaming her for not fighting against the zealots and preferring to bury her head in the sand.
In the statement they issued, they wrote: "We strongly condemn any attack on public officials – especially an attack on a city mayor – wherever they may occur. The events of last night testify to crossing a red line, and we demand that the Israeli police enforce the law to the fullest extent against the criminals."
Likud: "The attempt to show unity and brotherhood - fake headlines"
Despite the condemnations, officials in the local Likud branch chose to place the blame on Bloch herself. "However, Mrs Bloch cannot expect that she will feed the crocodile and it will not bite her back," they said. They added: "Throughout the term, Bloch gave the fanatics allocations and benefits. She did not fight them and tried to avoid confrontations with them, despite the great damage they do to the public in Beit Shemesh, she preferred to bury her head in the sand and not harm the industrial peace they received."
According to them: "Ugly graffiti is still scrawled on the walls of Ramat Beit Shemesh B, the 'Kasbah' is still an area with no enforcement and management, and none of this prevents Bloch from showing to the outside as if everything here is unity and brotherhood. The Likud party in Beit Shemesh will continue to see the residents, to tell the truth even when it is unpleasant to the ears and to avoid fake headlines."