Ultra-Orthodox Protest Convoy Set to Snarl Roads Across Israel

Ultra-Orthodox protesters are expected to launch a convoy demonstration on Wednesday afternoon, starting around 4:00 p.m., from 19 locations across Israel. Organizers say the motorcades will converge on major roads in a show of force, and traffic disruptions are likely nationwide. The protest is being organized by Agudat Yisrael and calls for legal recognition of draft evasion from the army.

The organizers said the “historic” vehicle procession will begin from points stretching from Safed in the north to Arad in the south. In their statement, they said thousands of drivers from across the community have already joined, and that the convoys will join together on major arteries to declare, “Enough!” The full list of departure cities includes Elad, Ashdod, Tiberias, Beitar Illit, Beit Shemesh, Bnei Brak, Givat Ze'ev, Haifa, Hatzor HaGlilit, Jerusalem, Modiin Illit, Nof HaGalil, Netanya, Emmanuel, Afula, Arad, Safed, Kiryat Gat and Rehovot.

The protest is part of the campaign titled, “Enough, there is no way without the way of Torah,” and organizers said convoys will head toward military prisons. They said the messages will reach prisoners at Prison 10 and tell them that the ultra-Orthodox public is carrying the burden of the struggle with them. They also said members of the Jerusalem Faction are expected to join the Agudat Yisrael-led protest.

The planned action comes one week after a major protest, when dozens of extreme demonstrators blocked Route 4 near the Geha Interchange by Bnei Brak in response to the arrest of a draft evader sentenced to 14 days in prison. That rally led to violent clashes with security forces, including mounted police, batons and stun grenades, and officers were filmed dragging protesters on the road and tearing their pants. Ultra-Orthodox lawmakers criticized the police, and Shas leader Aryeh Deri told National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, “Wake up.”