Ultra-Orthodox Protest Erupts in Modiin Over Arrested Deserter

Hundreds of ultra-Orthodox protesters clashed with police in Modiin on Tuesday night, attempting to break into the home of a military deserter who had been arrested. The protesters gathered outside the man's residence to protest his detention. After confrontations with police officers at the scene, the arrested deserter was released. The Israel Police stated that officers were responding to a disturbance that developed in the city related to the Military Police's operation to arrest a soldier classified as a deserter. Police forces were working to extract the Military Police soldiers and restore order. This incident in Modiin follows a large procession in Jerusalem the previous week, where thousands of ultra-Orthodox individuals marched in honor of deserters released from military prison in recent months. That procession began at the intersection of Brandeis and Bar Ilan streets and proceeded towards Yehezkel and Shmuel Hanavi streets. Dozens of deserters participated in the Jerusalem event, with some carrying signs labeling the IDF as the "enemy army." One sign read, "Free the hostages from Prison 10 who will never serve in the enemy army." Organizers of the Jerusalem event also pledged to provide the participating deserters with a financial grant of approximately 1,000 shekels.