Ultra-Orthodox Mob Blocks Military Arrest of Deserter in Modi'in

Ultra-Orthodox protesters clashed with police and military forces in Modi'in overnight between Monday and Tuesday, preventing the arrest of a military deserter. The incident began when Military Police arrived at the deserter's home to apprehend him. Hundreds of protesters, alerted by the "Tzeva Shahor" (Black Flag) alert center, quickly arrived, entered the building, and surrounded the military personnel.

Civilian police were called to assist in extracting the soldiers and restoring order. However, a deal was struck: the Military Police agreed to forgo the arrest in exchange for safe passage out of the area for their personnel. The deserter was not arrested, and the forces left the scene. Following the departure of the forces, the deserter was seen outside his home being celebrated by supporters.

"Tzeva Shahor" celebrated the outcome, stating that "thanks to the holy public, the police left the yeshiva student's home." The deserter himself, Yairi Lieberman, recounted how he contacted "Tzeva Shahor" after the Military Police arrived, saying that seeing the supporters arrive gave him strength.

A military source blamed civilian police for the failure, stating that the police, responsible for handling civilian disturbances, should have assisted the Military Police more effectively. A police source rejected this, asserting that they arrived as agreed to provide backup and questioned if everyone was satisfied with the result.

This event highlights the growing difficulty in enforcing arrest warrants in civilian areas when faced with mass opposition. The protesters' actions turned the arrest into a negotiation, demonstrating how the state's enforcement capabilities can be influenced by the intensity of resistance on the ground. The "Tzeva Shahor" organization, established to aid deserters and thwart their arrests, uses this tactic of quickly mobilizing protesters upon notification of an impending military operation.