Ultra-Orthodox Protest to Send Large Slow Car Convoy to Beit Lid Prison

The ultra-Orthodox protest against the arrest of draft evaders is set to escalate on Wednesday at 4:00 p.m., when hundreds to thousands of cars are expected to depart from 19 rally points across Israel and travel slowly to Prison 10 near Beit Lid. Organizers from Agudat Yisrael say about 2,000 vehicles have already registered, with launch sites spread from Hatzor and Safed in the north to Netanya, Rehovot, Jerusalem and Arad.

Police, however, are preparing for a convoy of 600 to 800 vehicles. They warn the demonstration will likely cause heavy traffic on highways 1, 2, 4 and 6, though the event is currently approved and police do not expect a total road closure. Police also say some protest figures are spreading fake information to mislead the public.

The tension follows last week’s protest near Prison 10, which left the city of Kfar Yona effectively blocked. In response, the mayor has already said in several media interviews that he intends to block the city entrance and stop the convoy from passing through.

Israel A. Grobייס, speaking for the protest, said, "We send our children to yeshivas and from there they end up in prisons." He added, "We are not blocking roads, we are driving in convoys of support for Torah learners. Yes, we will slow down, but everything is coordinated with the police. We are not seeking violence. We only want to make noise in terms of public awareness, and also tell our children that we support them. The goal is to express pain."