The national car protest by the ultra-Orthodox community began Wednesday afternoon and was organized in coordination with police. The organizers said the event was legal and approved, and stressed that participants were not to initiate roadblocks or stop along routes. The protest is meant to express opposition to the arrest of draft evaders while avoiding anarchy or illegal disruption of public order.
Convoys departed simultaneously from 19 gathering points in ultra-Orthodox population centers, including Jerusalem, Bnei Brak, Ashdod, Beit Shemesh and Elad. Drivers at the assembly points received informational material, flags and signs to decorate their vehicles before heading onto intercity roads.
Organizers issued strict discipline and safety instructions, emphasizing that this is a regulated event and not a spontaneous disturbance. Drivers were explicitly told not to block roads or crossings in any way, and not to stop their cars in the middle of a route, an action that could lead to police fines and tickets. The group said the goal was to make the protest clearly and in a disciplined manner, while avoiding any physical or verbal confrontation with security forces or passersby.
For safety, the convoy was ordered to travel only in the right lane, at a steady speed of about 50 km/h, and with double the usual following distance to prevent chain collisions. A central command post and phone update system were set up to track the convoys in real time, along with legal support from attorney Natan Rosenblat, who was available for urgent cases throughout the afternoon.
