Beit Shemesh lawmakers convened on Wednesday to name streets in the city's new Neveh Shamir neighborhood and decided that streets dedicated to prominent female figures in Israeli and Zionist history, such as Sarah Aaronsohn and Anne Frank, will only be referred to by their last names, to appease the area's ultra-Orthodox residents.
Based on the original planning, the streets in the new neighborhood were supposed to be dedicated to ultra-Orthodox individuals, but that was later changed to prominent Zionist figures, men and women alike.
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In a compromise with the city's Haredi councilmen, who hold a majority in the municipality's street-naming committee, it was decided that no first names would appear on any street signs. The full names will, however, appear in smaller print at the bottom of the street sign.
Gadi Damari, a Beit Shemesh resident, said: "The Ramat Beit Shemesh and Neveh Shamir neighborhoods are supposed to be for the general public. I was happy to learn that the street names in these neighborhoods were changed to 'Israeli-Zionist' names, but if heaven forbid they decided as a compromise not to name streets after women at all, it would be very serious.
"Just as we don't determine names for streets in Haredi neighborhoods, the Haredim would do well not to interfere with our street names."
The Beit Shemesh municipality said in a statement that it had "approved on [Wednesday evening] the street-naming committee's decision and the commemoration of [male and female] heroes of Israel. With the goal of creating unity, only the family names of the women and men will appear on the street signs."
Beit Shemesh Mayor Aliza Bloch said: "I suggest that [during the high holidays] we focus on the memories of the heroes and not on unnecessary attempts to make every little thing a tribal issue and divisive. The memories of these people are deserving of more than that."
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