A tense night unfolded on Friday, as large anti-draft prayer rallies were held at 13 locations across Israel under instructions from rabbis of the Edah HaHaredit court. The biggest gathering was in Jerusalem, near Zupnick Square and toward Shabbat Square, while other sites included Bnei Brak, Beit Shemesh, Achiisamach, Beitar, Brakfeld, Elad, Ashdod, Tiberias, Safed, Nof HaGalil and Harish.
The rallies were timed for Friday, after, as the organizers put it, “the terrible decrees brought by the regime of evil on the heads of the holy people,” especially the draft order they oppose for yeshiva students and married scholars. The special prayer service included Selichot and the recitation of the Thirteen Attributes, with shofar blasts and rabbis delivering forceful remarks against the draft bill.
In Jerusalem, the prayer event quickly escalated into a street confrontation. Hundreds of protesters poured into the roads and blocked major traffic routes, causing serious disruption in the city center. Police said some demonstrators acted violently and tried to damage cars caught in the area. Large forces from the Jerusalem District Police, Border Police and riot police were sent to extract trapped drivers.
An officer declared the protest unlawful, but the crowd refused to leave and began throwing objects at police. Officers then used loud dispersal measures, force, water cannons and stun grenades. After several hours, the roads were reopened. Two suspects were arrested for public disorder and taken for questioning.
