Beit Shemesh - An Israeli court has ordered new municipal
elections be held in a deeply divided city, citing irregularities in the
initial vote.
Beit Shemesh’s 100,000 residents are split almost equally
between ultra-Orthodox and other Jewish groups, including the secular, the
modern Orthodox, Russian and American immigrants and Jews of Middle Eastern
descent.
Official results of the October vote showed voters lining up
almost entirely along religious affiliation.
Incumbent ultra-Orthodox mayor
Moshe Abutbul garnered less than 1,000 votes more.
However, dozens of witnesses alleged fraud. They claimed
ballots were damaged and disqualified while residents with questionable
identification tried to vote multiple times.
On Thursday, a Jerusalem district court accepted the appeal,
saying a “heavy shadow” was cast over the vote.
Secular challenger Eli Cohen praised the decision saying
“the truth came out.”
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