Military Police Abort Yeshiva Student Arrest Amidst Protest

An attempt by the Military Police to arrest a yeshiva student in Modi'in overnight Tuesday failed when hundreds of yeshiva students gathered around his building, preventing his removal. Military Police officers arrived at the student's home late at night to transfer him to military prison. Shortly after their arrival, a report of the arrest was disseminated through the 'Tzeva Kachol' alert system, prompting hundreds of yeshiva students to converge on the scene. The protesters blocked the area around the building, and the Military Police were unable to leave with the student. Israeli Police forces were then called to assist in extracting the soldiers. A police spokesperson stated that officers from the Modi'in station were handling a public disturbance that developed in the city, "against the backdrop of Military Police activity to arrest a deserter." The spokesperson added that numerous police forces were operating in the area to extract the soldiers and restore public order. Ultimately, the Military Police left the scene, and the yeshiva student they intended to arrest remained in his home.