Ultra-Orthodox Protesters Block Buses and Entrances to Jerusalem Over Shabbat Transit

Dozens of ultra-Orthodox protesters blocked Egged buses entering Jerusalem from northern Israel before Shabbat, continuing a demonstration that began the previous week. At least 13 buses were stuck outside the city as protesters set up roadblocks on Route 1 near Weizmann Boulevard, completely preventing the buses from entering. A police patrol arrived after a long delay but did not disperse the crowd, instead turning around and leaving the scene. Protesters chanted that the police had fled. These bus lines have historically operated on Shabbat under a long-standing status quo, dropping passengers outside the central bus station. Private cars managed to bypass the blockade, but the protest specifically targeted buses running on Shabbat.

The police stated that reinforced forces were en route to restore order and redirect traffic to alternative routes. Similar protests are occurring in Safed, where the central Egged square has been a site of weekly Shabbat clashes for over two months. There, the "Netiv Express" company operates public transportation for soldiers and civilians under the same status quo.

Meanwhile, in Bnei Brak, Shabbat protests took a different form when containers were placed on a road leading to the Matam HaSofrim neighborhood, which includes secular residents. The containers blocked access, prompting residents to call the police, who removed the barriers and reopened the road. The truck driver who placed the containers was summoned for questioning on suspicion of endangering a transportation route. He claimed he was acting on behalf of the Bnei Brak municipality, which denied ordering the blockade.