Three Arrested in Haredi Protest Against Army Deserters' Arrest

Haredi Protests Erupt Over Arrest of Army Deserters

Thousands of ultra-Orthodox Jewish men took to the streets in protest following the arrest of three young men who were accused of deserting the Israeli army. The demonstrations, organized by extremist factions within the Haredi community, have sparked widespread concern and clashes with law enforcement.

The protests occurred on Wednesday across multiple locations in Israel, including Jerusalem, Bnei Brak, Modi'in, and Safed. Demonstrators blocked major roads and intersections, disrupting traffic for extended periods. In Jerusalem, protesters near the Chords Bridge caused a two-and-a-half-hour blockade, while others disrupted traffic on Highway 4 near Bnei Brak and at the Shilat interchange near Modi’in. In some cases, the protests turned violent, with clashes between demonstrators and police.

A Haredi yeshiva student caught in the blockade expressed his disappointment, stating, "It's heartbreaking to see children and adolescents, intelligent yeshiva students acting this way – shouting and getting into clashes." This sentiment was echoed by others who viewed the protests as a troubling development for the community.

One protester from the so-called Jerusalem Faction in Bnei Brak described the draft of yeshiva students as a "spiritual Holocaust." He accused Haredi lawmakers, particularly MK Moshe Gafni, of betraying their mission. The faction claimed that the arrests of three young men in Yehud were part of a larger effort to target Haredi youth, citing allegations that graves were being desecrated at a construction site.

The protests followed an unusual move by authorities, who handed over the arrested men to the military police, as they were considered deserters. Earlier in the day, another demonstration took place on Highway 40 near Kiryat Gat, where dozens of protesters attempted to block traffic. Three individuals were arrested during that incident.

Following previous demonstrations in Jerusalem and Beit Shemesh, where Haredi men clashed with police, the Jerusalem Faction issued internal messages claiming that three of its members had been "kidnapped." The group described this as a "declaration of war" against the Haredi community. The message warned of an expanding "hunting area" from Ben-Gurion Airport to every street and interchange in Israel, suggesting that the conflict would escalate in the coming days.

The Jerusalem Faction and the Eda Haredit faction are known for organizing efforts to prevent the arrest of Haredi army deserters. They recently activated a "Black alarm" system, which involves mobilizing hundreds of people to intervene when a deserter is about to be handed over to the military. According to the Jerusalem Faction, this system successfully prevented an arrest on Tuesday night. A yeshiva student detained for questioning was identified as a deserter, but after contacting the emergency line, large crowds gathered at the location, leading to his release.

In response to the ongoing tensions, Yitzhak Goldknopf, head of United Torah Judaism, appealed to Defense Minister Israel Katz. He urged the minister to contact Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and end what he called an "agonizing and unnecessary saga." Goldknopf emphasized the need to quickly legislate the status of Torah students, highlighting the growing frustration within the Haredi community.

These events reflect deepening divisions between the Haredi community and the Israeli government over issues of conscription and religious autonomy. As protests continue, the situation remains tense, with both sides showing little willingness to compromise.