Violent fringe assaults IDF families, proving extremist intolerance threatens unity, security, and Israel’s democratic foundations.
A violent disruption erupted Sunday night at a parents’ appreciation event for recruits of the Hashmonaim Brigade in Bnei Brak, when a small extremist group stormed the venue, injuring three soldiers and forcing senior officers to evacuate under heavy police protection.
The commander of the unit, Avinoam Emuna, was escorted from the scene amid escalating chaos, highlighting the severity of the attack against an official Israel Defense Forces gathering.
In a statement, the Israel Defense Forces condemned the violence, stressing that attacks on soldiers and commanders—particularly during a civilian appreciation event—cross every legal and moral boundary. Military officials emphasized that ideological disagreement can never justify physical aggression.
Bnei Brak city council member Yaakov Vider denounced the attackers, making clear that the violent fringe does not represent the city’s residents. He reaffirmed that IDF soldiers and officers will always retain the right to enter and remain freely in Bnei Brak without fear or intimidation.
Strong words also came from Avigdor Liberman, chairman of Yisrael Beytenu, who called for strict enforcement of the law against anyone attacking soldiers for ideological reasons. He argued that Israel’s legal system must respond decisively to protect those defending the state.
Earlier in the day, additional extremist demonstrations disrupted major traffic routes, including Highway 38 near Beit Shemesh and Jerusalem’s Golda Meir Junction, as protesters attempted to paralyze public life. Police intervened swiftly, dispersing crowds and restoring order.
Israeli officials say the incidents underscore a growing challenge posed by radicalized factions willing to use violence against the very forces safeguarding the nation—an intolerance that threatens social cohesion and emboldens Israel’s external enemies.
