Police Raid Breslov Community in Yavniel Over Underage Marriages

Dozens of police officers from the Northern District raided multiple locations in Yavniel on Tuesday as part of an ongoing crackdown on underage marriages within the local Breslov Hasidic community. The operation resulted in the detention of 16 minors and adults suspected of recently marrying or preparing for illegal wedding ceremonies. This action follows a similar operation several weeks ago where over 20 individuals were questioned in connection with underage marriages in the same community.

The phenomenon of minors, some as young as 13 and 14, marrying other minors has reportedly spread in the Yavniel Breslov community in recent years. These ceremonies are often conducted discreetly in the morning with a limited number of attendees, with the location kept secret until the last moment. Participants are discouraged from bringing phones or cameras to prevent documentation of the illegal unions.

Following the religious ceremony, a separate event is often held for the wider community, disguised as an "engagement party," to which all relatives of the bride and groom are invited.

The Israel Police stated that they "will continue to act decisively against any offense that harms minors and the helpless, including offenses related to underage marriages contrary to the law." The police emphasized that the investigation, ongoing for months, is part of a continuous effort to protect the safety, security, and rights of minors, and that they will continue to investigate thoroughly in cooperation with all law enforcement and welfare agencies to uncover the truth, prosecute those involved, and prevent the continuation of this phenomenon.