Clashes Break Out at Ultra-Orthodox Protest as Major Highways Snarl

An ultra-Orthodox protest against military enlistment turned violent on Tuesday, when a secular man was filmed fighting with Haredi demonstrators at one of the junctions blocked by the protest. The confrontation escalated into a fistfight, though it appeared to end without physical injuries.

The unrest came as major traffic disruptions were reported across central Israel from the afternoon, especially on Route 1 and Route 6, and on roads leading to them. Police said the congestion stemmed from protest convoys heading toward Prison 10 in Kfar Yona, but added that some of the activity on the roads did not match prior agreements made with the organizers.

Officers warned that in some locations protesters left their vehicles and walked on the high-speed lanes, creating a serious danger to themselves and to other drivers forced to maneuver around them. Police said the roads were not fully blocked at this stage, but traffic was moving slowly and the disruptions were expected to continue through the evening.

Israel Police called on the organizers and participants to act responsibly, keep to the arrangements, and avoid harming the public’s freedom of movement. The force also issued a clear warning: it respects the right to protest, but if illegal roadblocks or harm to road users continue, it will act within its authority to preserve public order, public safety, and free movement. Yisrael Beytenu chairman Gadi Eisenkot reacted to the footage, saying, "Netanyahu's legacy: the non-working and non-serving public paralyzes the state and shuts down the working and serving sector."