Ultra-Orthodox Protesters Block Highway 4 Over Draft Dodger Arrest
Translated & summarized from Mako by baba
Ultra-Orthodox protesters from the Jerusalem Faction blocked Highway 4 near Gan Yavne during Sunday morning rush hour to protest the arrest of two draft dodgers. The unannounced demonstration caused significant traffic disruptions. The two individuals were arrested on Thursday by Rishon Lezion police, found to be draft dodgers, and sentenced to 20 days in military prison. The protesters claim one of the arrested is a yeshiva student. This incident follows a pattern of protests against draft dodger arrests.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Ultra-Orthodox protesters blocked Highway 4 near Gan Yavne on Sunday morning during rush hour.
- The protest was against the arrest of two Haredi draft dodgers by Rishon Lezion police.
- The arrested individuals were sentenced to 20 days in military prison.
- Protesters chanted "We will die rather than enlist" and blocked traffic.
- Avigdor Lieberman called the protesters "terrorists" and demanded their arrest.
- Similar confrontations have occurred recently, including in Modi'in where protesters prevented an arrest.
Ultra-Orthodox protesters from the Jerusalem Faction blocked Highway 4 near the Gan Yavne interchange on Sunday morning during rush hour, protesting the arrest of two draft dodgers. The demonstration was unannounced and caused significant traffic disruption, with police reporting the highway was closed in both directions. Videos showed protesters chanting "We will die rather than enlist" and blocking vehicles.
The arrests occurred on Thursday when Rishon Lezion police stopped two Haredim for a routine check, revealing they were draft dodgers. They were transferred to military police and subsequently sentenced to 20 days in military prison on Friday. The protesters, identified as students of Rabbi Tzvi Friedman and known as "Hertspeniks," stated their protest was over the arrest of one of the individuals, whom they claim is a yeshiva student.
This incident follows a pattern of escalating tensions. Last Wednesday, Haredim attempted to breach a building housing a unit for integrating Haredim into the IDF, resulting in the arrest of two protesters.
Avigdor Lieberman, chairman of the Yisrael Beiteinu party, condemned the protesters, stating, "Dozens of evaders are trying to break into a military base by force. Anyone trying to break into an IDF base is simply a terrorist; they must all be arrested now and thrown in jail."
On October 6, violent confrontations occurred in Modi'in when military police attempted to arrest a Haredi draft dodger. Hundreds of protesters surrounded the police, clashed with them, and prevented the arrest. Military police were forced to withdraw from the scene without the individual, escorted by police reinforcements.
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