Ultra-Orthodox Protesters Clash With Police Over Jerusalem Light Rail Construction
Translated & summarized from Ynet by baba
Ultra-Orthodox protesters clashed with police in Jerusalem on Thursday evening, initially demonstrating against conscription and later against Jerusalem Light Rail construction. The protests, which began in the afternoon, involved blocking major roads and throwing objects at police, resulting in minor injuries. While most protests dispersed by early evening, disturbances continued on Bar Ilan Street, with one arrest reported. The demonstrations are part of ongoing opposition by extremist Haredi factions to the light rail's route through their neighborhoods, with construction now expected to finish in late 2027.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Ultra-Orthodox protesters clashed with police in Jerusalem on Thursday evening.
- Demonstrations initially focused on conscription but shifted to opposing light rail construction.
- Protesters blocked major roads, threw objects, and caused property damage.
- Several police officers and security guards sustained minor injuries.
- One arrest was made, and police used crowd dispersal methods.
- The protests are linked to opposition against the Jerusalem Light Rail's "Green Line" route.
Ultra-Orthodox protesters continued to disrupt order on Bar Ilan Street in Jerusalem on Thursday evening, more than six hours after demonstrations began in Bnei Brak and Jerusalem. What started as a protest against conscription evolved into a demonstration against construction work on the Jerusalem Light Rail. Following the arrest of three protesters the previous day outside the Prime Minister's residence, police reported only one arrest on Bar Ilan Street. Police stated that officers and Border Police forces were responding to violent disturbances, during which protesters damaged infrastructure, traffic signs, and lights, set trash cans ablaze, and threw stones and objects at forces while repeatedly attempting to block major traffic routes. Several officers and security guards sustained minor injuries from thrown objects, and a police officer's vehicle was attacked, though she was safely extracted. The protests, which began earlier in the afternoon in response to the re-arrest of draft dodgers, saw major roads blocked, including Route 4 and the Chords Bridge entrance to Jerusalem, causing significant traffic jams. While most roads were cleared by 6 p.m., disturbances persisted on Bar Ilan Street. Earlier, police used stun grenades, mounted units, and batons to clear protesters from the Chords Bridge area, where a soldier was temporarily stranded. In one instance, a police officer was filmed throwing a stun grenade improperly towards a protester's upper body. Another video showed a taxi driver emerging with a club and threatening protesters. Demonstrators chanted "We will die and not be drafted" and called police officers "Nazis." The protests against the light rail's "Green Line," which will connect Gilo and Mount Scopus, are driven by extremist Haredi factions who oppose its passage through their neighborhoods. Construction, initially slated for completion in late 2025, began in October of the previous year due to various delays, including the war and opposition from these factions. The completion date is now projected for late 2027. Reports from July indicated that damages from previous Haredi riots against the light rail project had already reached an estimated half a billion shekels.
