About 5,000 vehicles gathered on Sunday at 19 departure points across Israel for the “Ad Kan” protest, a historic convoy organized by the ultra-Orthodox community in response to what organizers described as an unprecedented wave of arrests of yeshiva students and married scholars. The joint departure was scheduled for 4:00 p.m., with activists placing protest signs and explanatory materials on the cars bearing the slogan “Ad Kan!”
The rally is being led by representatives of United Torah Judaism and Agudat Yisrael, who are shifting their activity from parliament to the roads. United Torah Judaism chairman MK Yitzhak Goldknopf is leading the convoy from the Schneller parking lot in Jerusalem, while MK Rabbi Meir Porush and Deputy Minister Yisrael Eichler are at the front of the column leaving from the Har HaMenuchot parking lot. In Ashdod, MK Yaakov Tessler is leading the convoy from near Park Ad Halom, and in Bnei Brak former MK Moshe Shimon Roth is heading the convoy from Hazon Ish Street near the water tower.
The MKs said, “Do not touch My anointed,” and added, “We will go בדרך התורה,” meaning they will continue on the path of Torah. The organizing slogan and official logo were displayed throughout the preparations.
Police held a special planning meeting on Saturday and approved the operational arrangements with the organizers. Senior Inspector Roi Amihai, head of operations in the Traffic Division, said police had prepared on a large scale and did not expect road closures. He said the focus would be on major routes, בעיקר Highway 1, 4 and 6, and that an understanding had been reached for participants to drive in the right lane at 50 kph, while other motorists could continue in the left lane.
The protest comes after several days of arrests. Last week, the Jerusalem Faction announced emergency demonstrations at four strategic locations after police intended to transfer 19 yeshiva students to military authorities. In recent days, police arrested yeshiva student Moshe Mordechai Dubdani on Highway 6, and a military court sentenced Yeshiva Maalot HaTorah student Michael Petroff, son of Rabbi Yosef Petrov, to 40 days in prison for desertion. Organizers said the convoy is meant to amplify the call against what they see as attacks on the Torah world, with further updates to follow.
