Violent confrontations erupted on Wednesday during ultra-Orthodox protests in Arad and Ashdod. In Arad, one video showed a passerby confronting a demonstrator and striking him, after which another protester joined in and the argument escalated into a physical brawl. Police said they were working to restore order.
A second clip from the middle of a residential neighborhood in Arad showed dozens of teenagers surrounding protesters from the Gur Hasidic community. The footage showed shouting and disorder at the scene, while police were not seen intervening to separate the sides.
In Ashdod, protesters were filmed blocking a bus carrying soldiers and confronting them around the vehicle. The incidents were part of protests held at several locations across the country on the same day.
Police from the Southern District are operating in Arad after receiving a report of a fight near a residential complex. Police and Border Police forces deployed to the area said they were working to maintain public order and prevent further violence.
During the demonstrations, lawmakers from United Torah Judaism warned of escalation. Yitzhak Goldknopf said, "We will not allow Torah students to be arrested in the Land of Israel, we will continue these protests until they stop harming Torah students." Meir Porush added, "The situation is getting worse and more severe than it was two or three years ago, certainly there is a need to protest. If there are more arrests, there will be worse things." Yisrael Beiteinu chairman Gadi Eisenkot said, "Netanyahu's legacy, the non-working and non-serving public is paralyzing the state and shutting down the working and serving sector, at the end of the workday. Soon it will end. The next government will act according to the national interests of the State of Israel, and not according to the interests of Deri, Gafni and Goldknopf."
