Police Say No Road Closures Expected for Ultra-Orthodox Car Protest

Israeli police said they have prepared on a large scale for an ultra-Orthodox car protest scheduled for Wednesday at 4:00 p.m., but expect no road closures. In a conversation with Kikar HaShabbat, Chief Superintendent Roni Amihai, head of operations in the Traffic Division, said understandings were reached with the organizers and the protest will be allowed as long as traffic flow is preserved.

The protest is expected to involve thousands of vehicles departing from 19 locations nationwide as part of the campaign against the arrest of Torah students. Police held a special planning meeting on Tuesday and approved the operational plans. Amihai said the arrangement is clear, protesters will drive in the right lane at about 50 kph, while drivers who want to continue their trip will use the left lane. He added, “There are no road blockages,” and, “As long as freedom of protest and freedom of movement are preserved, we have no problem with the protest.”

Amihai said police have also prepared for the route near Kfar Yona, after the city’s mayor said he would try to prevent the convoys from entering the city. Police expect the vehicles to travel on Route 57 toward Beit Lid instead, with the main destination being Military Prison 10 near Kfar Yona. He said thousands of officers were deployed across all police districts.

At the same time, he warned that any breach of order would be handled appropriately, though police hope it will not affect the other convoys. Later in the interview, Amihai addressed road safety, saying 2026 has seen an increase in fatal crashes on intercity roads compared with the same period last year. He said more patrol cars and enforcement, alongside broad technological enforcement, are intended to push drivers to be more careful and save lives.