Israel’s Haredi press on Wednesday morning called on “thousands” to join a nationwide car protest, with headlines such as “Shivering and trembling” and “It is impossible to stay silent.” The rally is being organized by Gur Hasidim, the largest Hasidic court in Israel and the most powerful force inside United Torah Judaism, and participants are expected to travel in convoys from 19 locations across the country toward Prison 10 in the Sharon area.
United Torah Judaism chairman MK Yitzhak Goldknopf said he would not help yeshiva students, despite Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s deal with the Haredi parties. In an interview with ynet, Goldknopf said the public wanted to express “deep pain” over a reality in which, in its view, “the State of the Jews is stopping Torah learners because of Torah study.” He said the events are being held in an orderly and responsible way, in full coordination with police. Goldknopf said he did not know the details of the agreement between Netanyahu, Moshe Gafni and Aryeh Deri, and added that only legislation clearly regulating the status of those “whose Torah is their profession” could bring lasting change.
Magen David Adom said it had completed preparations for the protests. Spokesman Zaki Heller told ynet that teams were briefed from the morning, additional ambulances and intensive-care units would be deployed from the afternoon in areas expected to see traffic jams, and the organization was preparing for blocked routes while still needing to respond to emergencies such as childbirth, heart attacks and car crashes. He urged the public to keep ambulances moving and to call 101 in any medical emergency.
At the same time, Kfar Yona was bracing for what Mayor Albert Tait called a repeat of last week’s “significant destruction and damage.” He said more than 10,000 Haredim had demonstrated there previously and that the city had been “besieged” from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. because of road closures. Tait said the convoy would not be allowed to enter the city, stressed that any action would be coordinated with police, and accused the government of allowing detainees to be released after one or two days instead of being properly prosecuted. He called for those draft dodgers to be imprisoned in a remote site in the south.
