Jerusalem Faction Files Complaints to Police Investigators Over Protest Policing

A Haredi fund affiliated with the Jerusalem Faction has begun filing formal complaints with the Police Internal Investigations Department, or Mahash, over violent clashes that erupted yesterday during a large ultra-Orthodox protest on Route 4. The group, called "For the Fight Against the Draft Decree," is led by Rabbi Tzvi Friedman, one of the rabbis associated with the Jerusalem Faction.

The fund says the complaints are backed by video footage and legal opinions that, in its view, prove police used disproportionate force. The protest took place yesterday morning and drew hundreds of participants who were demonstrating against the arrest of a yeshiva student from Netivot who refused military enlistment.

The rally caused road closures and severe traffic disruptions across the Gush Dan area. During efforts to clear the road, physical confrontations broke out between protesters and police, and officers also used stun grenades. Several protesters were injured in the unrest, and dozens were arrested, though some were later released the same day.

The fund’s legal department said the recent events amount to a red line crossed by police and said it intends to pursue all available legal steps against the officers involved. It also said road blockages and protests against the conscription of yeshiva students will continue in the coming period.