Haredi protests begin near Military Prison 10 over draft arrests

Haredi protesters demonstrated on Wednesday near Military Prison 10, where several draft evaders from the Haredi community are being held after being handed over to military police. The protests were organized against the arrest of yeshiva students who are liable for military service.

Two days earlier, Kan News reported that senior officials in Degel HaTorah had met to plan an unprecedented protest against IDF conscription, expected to draw tens of thousands of Haredim. The plan includes mass vehicle convoys traveling across Israel toward the military prison, accompanied by flags and loudspeakers, with the stated aim of slowing traffic and protesting the detention of Haredi deserters.

Separately, earlier this week prosecutors filed an indictment against four Haredi rioters who took part in a protest outside the home of Supreme Court Justice Noam Sohlberg about two weeks ago: Nachman Platnik, Avraham Fried, Gershon Hanoch, and Shimon Taaf. Police said the investigation into additional suspects is continuing.

During that incident, protesters against the conscription of yeshiva students came to Sohlberg’s home in the settlement of Alon Shvut, caused damage there, and smashed the windshield of his car and the windows of the house. Police detained about 50 suspects at the time.