Ultra-orthodox Jews oppose school integration
Ultra-Orthodox Jews have called mass demonstrations in Israel to protest a Supreme Court ruling forcing the integration of a religious girls’ school.
Parents of European, or Ashkenazi, descent do not want their children studying with schoolgirls of Mideast and North African descent, known as Sephardim.
The Ashkenazi parents insisted they are not racist. They said they want the classrooms segregated because the families of the Sephardim girls are not religious enough.
Parents who defy the ruling are to be imprisoned today for two weeks for contempt of court.
Tens of thousands of ultra-Orthodox Jews are expected to attend protests in various places across the country. Police said thousands of officers are being deployed to secure the demonstrations.
