Criminal8/19/2026

Partition Dismantled During Gender-Segregated Prayer in Tel Aviv

About 30 people gathered in Habima Square for a gender-segregated Selichot prayer service. Municipal inspectors removed the partition, after which the participants confronted police officers and inspectors.

Key facts

•Location: Habima Square, Tel Aviv
•Participants: About 30 worshippers
•Organizer: Mordechai David
•The partition was dismantled by municipal inspectors
•The megaphone was returned about half an hour later
•No arrests or charges were mentioned

Who Organized the Event

The prayer service was organized by activist Mordechai David, whom the source describes as having been convicted in the past and as being close to several ministers, including National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. Two women prayed behind the partition. Passersby did not confront the participants.

Why the Inspectors Intervened

Tel Aviv Municipality inspectors and large police forces arrived at the square. According to the municipality's position, erecting a partition in a public space in the city is prohibited, and the inspectors therefore dismantled it. The police allowed the structure to be confiscated.

How the Confrontation Developed

After the partition was dismantled, confrontations began between the participants and the police officers and municipal inspectors. Derogatory remarks were shouted at them, as well as at Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai. Mordechai David's megaphone was temporarily confiscated on suspicion that it had been used for calls to disturb public order, but it was returned about half an hour later.

No Legal Outcome Was Reported

The source does not report any arrests, filing of indictments, or initiation of legal proceedings. No case number, specific statutory provision, or formal procedural decision is mentioned in the report.

What this means for you

Event organizers in Tel Aviv's public spaces must take into account municipal restrictions on erecting structures, including partitions. The report indicates that inspectors may dismantle such a structure with police assistance, but the article does not establish a general legal precedent and does not report that the participants were prosecuted.

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