Ultra-Orthodox Community Warns of Anarchy Amid Rising Arrests and Draft Protests
Tensions within Israel's ultra-Orthodox community have escalated sharply following the arrest and military detention of Avraham Angel, a student from the Nezer Yisrael yeshiva. Angel was detained last weekend on suspicion of driving a stolen vehicle on Route 443. Despite explicit police assurances that he would not be handed over to the military police, the transfer was carried out covertly, resulting in his incarceration at Prison 10.
The activist group "Black Flag" expressed deep anger and unprecedented concern over these developments, warning that the erosion of trust in law enforcement could lead to complete anarchy and loss of control during future arrests of yeshiva students. Angel's arrest is part of a broader surge in detentions of ultra-Orthodox students in recent days, including notable cases such as Israel Gohfi from Kfar Hassidim, who was arrested in Haifa after a dispute with a public transport inspector and also transferred to military custody.
Other detainees include Moshe Steiner from the Kibbutz Yeshiva in Beit Meir and Moti Mishkovsky, grandson of Rabbi Natan Zuchovsky, who was sentenced to 20 days in Prison 10 after being arrested near Ben Shemen Forest. In response, the extremist faction of the Jerusalem Faction, known as the Rezfaniks, organized protests and roadblocks in central Israel, including closures on Geha Road and sections of Jabotinsky Road, with around thirty demonstrators participating.
Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef addressed the issue during a recent sermon in Jerusalem, recounting the spiritual suffering endured by yeshiva students imprisoned in military detention. He described the harsh conditions, including forced exposure to inappropriate television content, which detainees found deeply distressing.
The situation is expected to intensify with the upcoming ultra-Orthodox recruitment day scheduled for Sunday, marked by planned widespread protests at military recruitment offices. The Badatz of the Edah HaChareidis in Jerusalem issued a sharp call to action, urging the community to demonstrate and dissuade young men from enlisting. Political figures are also expected to attend these protests, potentially heightening tensions further. Observers predict the coming week will be one of the most volatile periods in the ultra-Orthodox sector in recent memory, as broken promises regarding arrests coincide with the contentious draft period, threatening to mobilize thousands of protesters onto the streets.
