Jerusalem Faction Protests Cause Road Blockages, Jerusalem Entrance Incident

Protests organized by the Jerusalem Faction against the arrest of yeshiva students began Thursday afternoon in Jerusalem and the Gush Dan area, leading to severe traffic congestion on major roads. Police blocked Highway 4 southbound near Bnei Brak, and an attempted vehicle ramming was reported near the entrance to Jerusalem during the demonstrations. Heavy traffic jams had already formed before the scheduled 4:00 PM start time. According to Netivei Israel data, traffic was backed up on Highway 4 from the Rishon LeZion area towards Giv'at Shmuel, and on Highway 1 between Latrun and Sorek, and between Motza and Harel interchange. Key protest sites included the Chords Bridge area and the entrance to Jerusalem, as well as Highway 4 near Bnei Brak and the Geha junction. The protests were triggered by a wave of arrests of yeshiva students classified as draft dodgers. This week, two yeshiva students were sentenced to 20 days in military prison, and recent attempts to arrest students in Modi'in, Dimona, and Bat Yam failed when protesters were alerted, leading to confrontations with security forces. In response, the Jerusalem Faction's leader, Rabbi Azriel Auerbach, called for widespread demonstrations, extending the call to all faction members, not just the groups that had previously blocked roads. Police are working to manage traffic and are urging drivers to avoid protest areas and use alternative routes. The duration and development of the protests throughout the evening remain uncertain.