Haredi protest leaders threaten nationwide roadblocks if convoy is blocked

Leaders of the protest against the arrest of draft dodging Haredi men warned Tuesday evening that they will shut down major roads if police interfere with a planned convoy to Military Prison 10 near Bnei Atarot. “If there is any disruption to even one of the convoys, all of us will get out of the cars and block all the roads at once,” they said ahead of Wednesday’s large demonstration.

According to a report aired Monday night on Kan News, police approved the protest convoy, which is set to depart from 19 locations across Israel and is expected to cause traffic congestion between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. Police, however, imposed a condition that the convoy must not enter the prison itself, because the road leading there passes through Kfar Yona, and authorities want to prevent friction between local residents and Haredi protesters.

The planned closures are expected in Jerusalem and surrounding areas, including Route 1 at the city entrance, the Chords Bridge, the Bnei Brak area on Bar Ilan Street and nearby routes. Additional disruptions are expected on Route 1 near Ben Gurion Interchange, Route 4 at Geha, Aluf Sadeh, Gannot, Hashiv'a and Em Hamoshavot interchanges, Route 6 at Ben Shemen, Nesharim and Kesem interchanges, Route 20, near Namir Road and Derech Hashalom, Route 40 near Ben Gurion Airport, Route 57 near Netanya-Kfar Yona, Route 444 near Elad, and Route 471 at Sha'ar Yaffo.