Ultra-Orthodox Protesters Dragged Off Highway 4 After Blocking Traffic

Extremist ultra-Orthodox protesters who blocked Highway 4 were filmed being dragged away without pants, and one person was arrested. The incident prompted a sharp attack from Shas chairman Aryeh Deri against National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, who he said had allowed a different policing response than during protests in Kaplan.

Deri said: “It is impossible that what the police did not do in Kaplan against anarchists who wanted to destroy the state, it is now doing against citizens who are crying out that they were turned into criminals only because they study Torah.” His remarks framed the police response as unfair toward religious demonstrators.

Police spokesman Cmdr. Aryeh Doron told ynet’s studio that the rally was illegal. “This is an illegal demonstration. Our role at this hour is to allow vehicle traffic and do everything possible to reopen the route,” he said. The police said their immediate priority was restoring traffic flow on the highway.