Large Haredi Hasidic communities and the Jerusalem Faction are set to hold a convoy protest on Wednesday against the arrest of yeshiva students and kollel men labeled draft evaders. The demonstration will depart from 19 locations nationwide, head toward Prison 10 near Kfar Yona, begin at 4:00 p.m. and end around 8:00 p.m.
Ahead of the event, voice messages in Yiddish were circulated on the internal lines of Gur, Boian, Slonim, Sanz-Klausenburg, and Belz, calling people to join the protest “for the honor of the Torah and those who study it.” The organizers said their main demand is the “immediate release of all Torah students under arrest,” an end to the arrests, and the cancellation of all decrees against Torah learners and their families. They added, “We will not sit quietly while our brothers are behind bars for the offense of studying Torah, and they are chasing yeshiva students and kollel men in the streets.”
Participants were instructed to drive at a steady speed of about 50 kph in the right lane only, and to bring water, food, and study books. Cars are expected to display signs reading “We are all with the prisoners of the Torah world” and “The convoy for the sake of Torah students.”
Police in the Sharon district are preparing with about 200 officers. Police said vehicles will not be allowed near Prison 10 and protesters will be directed to a parking lot outside Kfar Yona for a rally, warning of enforcement if traffic is severely disrupted. A protest organizer said the aim is still to reach the prison area, circle it, and return. At the same time, residents of nearby Givat Alonim and Kfar Yona Mayor Albert Tieb are planning a counterprotest to prevent roadblocks in the neighborhood. Tieb said the city will not allow a repeat of last week’s events and will not accept further disruption to daily life. Residents from the area and politicians from The Democrats are also expected to join. The convoy comes a day after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with United Torah Judaism chair Moshe Gafni and Shas chair Aryeh Deri, after which political understandings on issues affecting the Haredi public were reported.
