Haredi protesters block traffic in central Israel, clash with police

Israeli police used stun grenades and water cannons Sunday morning to disperse haredi (ultra-Orthodox) protesters from the extremist Jerusalem Faction (Peleg Yerushalmi) after they blocked traffic at the Yavne interchange on Highway 4, south of Tel Aviv.

According to eyewitnesses, around 50 haredi young men ran into the middle of morning rush-hour traffic hours before a planned demonstration against the arrest of haredi draft evaders over the weekend.

The protesters refused to let motorists pass, prompting several drivers to leave their vehicles and engage in shouting matches and physical altercations with them before police arrived to restore order.

The Israel Police issued a statement saying, "An illegal demonstration is currently taking place at the Yavne Interchange, with rioters blocking the road in both directions. Israel Police officers are at the scene, directing traffic to alternative routes, working to reopen the road and restore order."

Police also urged motorists to find alternative routes and avoid the interchange if possible.

After two hours of clashes, traffic resumed, although several motorists complained that the disruption had made them late for work.

The demonstration reportedly followed the weekend arrest of two haredi young men who had failed to report to IDF enlistment centers despite receiving notices to appear for conscription.

The issue of haredi draft evaders has divided Israeli society for decades. Over the past three years, as Israel has fought what many consider an existential battle against enemies attacking on seven fronts, the debate has taken on greater urgency.

With Knesset elections looming in just nine days, political leaders have increasingly demanded that the haredi community share responsibility for national security by allowing its young men to serve alongside other Jewish men and women.

However, haredi leaders have firmly resisted those demands. Among them is Shas chairman and Interior Minister Ariya Deri, who recently declared that his own grandson was among the haredi young men refusing to enlist voluntarily.

Yet not all haredi Israelis support the protests. Eli P., a haredi yeshiva student whose family has lived in Jerusalem for four generations, has participated in demonstrations against conscription but recently told ALL ISRAEL NEWS he no longer wants to attend them.

“Our rabbis insist on not allowing anyone to go to the army, and I understand why,” he said. “But I also understand the people who say that it’s not fair for non-haredi Jewish men to go to the army while we don’t. They’re right, it’s not fair.”

Eli said he understands the anger among non-haredi Israelis, including Modern Orthodox Jews, as the country continues to face attacks. He also expressed concern about the growing violence at demonstrations.

“I am very sad to see Jewish people fighting each other and I don’t want to go to any more demonstrations because I don’t want to fight with the police and I don’t want to get hurt either,” he said. “The demonstrations used to be rowdy but not violent, but lately it gets violent almost every time and sooner or later something really awful is going to happen at one of these demonstrations. Many people agree with me. Something has to change.”