Ultra-Orthodox Protest Campaign Against Draft Evader Arrests Expands Across Israel

The ultra-Orthodox protest movement against the arrest of draft evaders is intensifying. After Jerusalem Faction demonstrations on central Israel’s roads last week, thousands of cars are set to leave 20 starting points across the country on Wednesday, from the north to the south, and drive slowly to create traffic jams in protest of the arrests.

The convoy is being organized by Agudat Israel, the Hasidic faction within the Degel HaTorah slate, and the vehicles will be decorated with signs under the slogan "Enough is enough." On Thursday, the Jerusalem Faction is expected to hold another protest, likely on the Geha Highway in central Israel, against the arrest of an ultra-Orthodox draft evader on Highway 6 on Tuesday. That rally had been planned for Wednesday, but organizers of the car convoy asked that it be postponed by two days.

A larger protest rally is also scheduled for Saturday night in Bnei Brak, led by former Chief Rabbi and Shas leader Rabbi Yitzchak Yosef. Shas chairman Aryeh Deri was not invited, amid tensions inside the Sephardi party over his leadership, with many in Shas accusing him of failing to properly handle the issue of exemptions from military service for ultra-Orthodox Jews.

The campaign accompanying the convoy features three main posters reading, "We are all prisoners of Torah," "Car convoy in support of Torah learners," and "To be Jewish even in the Land of Israel." The organizing committee said the posters reflect "the voice of the broad public from among the people of Israel who can no longer remain silent," adding that the messages will send support "directly beyond the walls of Prison 10" and show the imprisoned Torah students that the ultra-Orthodox public is carrying the burden of the struggle with them.