After mass ultra-Orthodox convoy, MK Porush warns of new protest steps

A day after a huge ultra-Orthodox convoy to a military prison, MK Meir Porush of United Torah Judaism gathered the organizers and activists for a first debriefing and to consider escalating the protest. The meeting focused on what the organizers saw as the success of the public show of force, and on proposals for tougher steps if the authorities do not meet their demands and stop detaining yeshiva students who have not reported for military service.

Porush said the Haredi public had shown it would no longer stay silent in the face of what he called the “trampling” of Torah study, decrees and sanctions, and that it stood firmly behind the detainees. He praised the logistics team and said turnout had exceeded expectations, claiming that nearly 10,000 vehicles joined from across the country and that additional cities joined spontaneously.

He called the event “historic” and said it sent an unmistakable message to the political and security establishment. Porush also addressed reports of serious violence on major roads by drivers and passersby against convoy participants. He said protesters faced “hard acts of violence, provocations and even physical threats,” but insisted they behaved responsibly, did not respond with violence, maintained orderly conduct, and obeyed police instructions.

Porush ended with a direct warning to the government and law-enforcement authorities, saying the convoy was only the opening shot in the current fight over military conscription. He demanded the immediate release of the detained yeshiva students and the cancellation of sanctions against yeshiva fellows, adding that if the demands are not met, the movement will continue and may adopt “surprising” new tactics under the direction of Haredi leaders.