Opposition Lawmaker Demands Police Intervention Over Arad Bomb Shelters Used as Exclusive Synagogues

Naor Shiri demands Israel Police clear Arad bomb shelters used as synagogues following Iranian missile strikes. Read the latest on the shelter access dispute.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 22, 2026, 9:21 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Ariela Karmel

The Conflict Between Religious Use and Public Safety

The safety of residents in the southern city of Arad has become the center of a heated political and legal dispute following a series of Iranian missile strikes. Member of Knesset Naor Shiri has formally requested that Israel Police Commissioner Danny Levy intervene to ensure that public bomb shelters are not being repurposed for non-emergency functions. Reports have surfaced indicating that several "dual-use" shelters, which often serve as community spaces during times of peace, are currently functioning as synagogues. This has allegedly resulted in restricted access for residents who are not part of specific religious congregations, creating a life-threatening barrier during active aerial bombardments.

Allegations of Restricted Access During Emergencies

In a formal letter to the Police Commissioner, Shiri highlighted disturbing reports that entry to these shelters has been denied to the general public during non-prayer times. The opposition lawmaker argues that while the dual-use of such facilities is a common practice in Israel during periods of calm, the declaration of an emergency necessitates an immediate shift in protocol. According to Home Front Command guidelines, once a conflict begins, these structures must be cleared of all furniture or religious items that might impede their primary function. The failure to do so in Arad is being cited as a direct contributor to the high number of injuries sustained during Saturday night’s missile barrage.

Political Friction and the Mayor's Stance

The controversy is fueled by recently surfaced footage of Arad Mayor Yair Maayan from a city council meeting held on March 6. In the video, recorded just a week after the war with Iran commenced, Maayan is seen aggressively defending the use of shelters as religious spaces. When questioned by council members about the legality of this arrangement during an active war, the Mayor reportedly asserted that every available shelter in the city would serve as a synagogue. He further intensified the rhetoric by labeling those who opposed the dual-use policy as antisemites, a stance that critics claim prioritizes political posturing over the physical security of the citizenry.