Thousands of Haredi Protesters Rally at Multiple Sites as Jerusalem Faction Threatens Wider Disruptions

Against the backdrop of the riots at Justice Solberg’s home and the arrests of draft evaders, the Jerusalem Faction called today, Wednesday, for emergency protests at four locations across central Israel. Thousands arrived at Abu Kabir and Rusian Compound, and a source in the Edah HaHaredit told N12, “We will protest in places no one ever dreamed of.”

Earlier today it was reported that the Shin Bet would be involved in preparations around Haredi protests in support of draft evaders, in order to prevent harm to symbols of government, including the police, the IDF and judges. According to the report, the organization is not expected to be involved in the investigations now underway into the break-in at Justice Noam Sohlberg’s home and the police station, but rather in preventing similar incidents in the future.

The main protest sites were announced in a message circulated among members of the Torah-observant public. “We will go out to a broad protest against the extradition process,” the notice said. “Those who fear the word of God are called to go out to the protest sites across the country.”

After the call, large numbers of Haredim הגיעו to Abu Kabir in an attempt to secure the release of the detainees, and a confrontation broke out there between police forces and Haredi protesters. Hundreds blocked the entrance to the detention facility and Tel Giborim Road in protest against the arrests of draft evaders. Police mounted units were among the forces operating there, and at this stage one arrest is known. The access road to Abu Kabir and Ben Zvi Road were blocked for about three and a half hours.

During the demonstration, a yeshiva student from the extremist circles who had been arrested during the riots at Justice Sohlberg’s home about a week ago was released from the detention facility, according to Jerusalem Faction reports. At the same time, a source in Edah HaHaredit claimed that some of the Sohlberg detainees had already been transferred to a military prison.

Another disturbance broke out near the police station at the Russian Compound in Jerusalem. The protesters blocked the movement of detainees’ vehicles from the detention center and, according to police, threw objects at the forces and attacked officers. Police added that the protest sites in the city, including the Russian Compound, Hanevi'im Street and Haim Bar-Lev Boulevard, had turned into violent disturbances.

Border Police, Yasam and Matpa forces are operating in the area and used stun grenades and mounted police to disperse the unrest and clear the roads. So far, police have arrested three suspects for rioting and attacking police officers.

A student from the Hebrew University described to N12 how she was attacked after the bus she was riding on from her studies, Route 19, was caught up in the protest. According to her, the driver told passengers that it would probably not be possible to continue the ride and recommended that they get off the bus. She said rioters first shouted “shiksa” at her and spat at her. Later, when she tried to move away from the protesters, she said, “I tried to do it as quickly as possible, but one of them grabbed my hair. I shouted at him and ran away.”

In the background of the protests, a source in Edah HaHaredit warned N12, “If the Sohlberg detainees are transferred to the military prison, there are no more red lines, we will protest in places no one ever dreamed of.”

In addition, the Committee for the Rescue of the Torah published a sarcastic notice written in a style identical to an IDF spokesperson’s announcement, warning of roadblocks and protest areas. “Residents of the center, take note! In the coming days a protest will take place and this area will be blocked to traffic due to the continued arrest of yeshiva students and the persecution of the world of Torah,” the notice said.

The events began after riots were recorded at Justice Sohlberg’s home, during which police arrested 54 people. Of all the detainees, police said they would transfer 19, who were found to be army draft evaders, to the military police. Police will ask the court to extend the detention of four other detainees, while the rest will be released under restrictive conditions.

During the investigation, a dramatic development was recorded when materials gathered showed that the incident had been planned in advance in meticulous detail, with a real intent to physically harm the senior judge. At the same time as the announcement about transferring the detainees, the military court today sentenced another Haredi draft evader, the son of one of the senior figures in the Jerusalem Faction, to 40 days in prison.

Protesters were called to take to the streets against what the Haredi community calls the “extradition process” of the detainees, defined as draft evaders, to military authorities. The main protest sites designated are the Russian Compound in Jerusalem, Nitzan Prison in Ramle, Hadarim Prison and Route 4 in the north and Sharon area, and the Abu Kabir complex for the central region.