After More Than an Hour of Roadblocks, Left-Wing Protesters Begin Leaving Bnei Brak

Left-wing protesters blocked the entrances and exits to Bnei Brak on Friday evening, ahead of the Sabbath, causing severe traffic disruptions and anger among local residents. After more than an hour of blockades, the protesters began to disperse, but police delayed reopening the roads, forcing many residents to walk in an effort to get home before Shabbat began.

Videos circulating on social media showed protesters causing disturbances, staging provocations, fighting with passersby, and blocking major routes in the city. The footage also fueled accusations of unequal enforcement, because officers did not use force against the demonstrators and were seen smiling and calm, unlike the police response to previous ultra-Orthodox protests.

Among those filmed was Deputy Superintendent Yuval Shavit, commander of the Bnei Brak-Ramat Gan station, who had previously been recorded using force against protesters in Bnei Brak. In the new footage, he was seen shaking hands with the protesters.

The images triggered public outrage and sharp criticism of the police and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, with accusations of selective enforcement and violence against Bnei Brak residents while showing leniency toward left-wing protesters. Residents expressed anger that the roads were not reopened quickly enough on Friday evening, leaving them to walk home before the Sabbath.