Thousands Protest in Bnei Brak Against Arrests of Ultra-Orthodox Draft Resisters

Thousands of Sephardic ultra-Orthodox Jews are set to gather in Bnei Brak this evening for a mass protest against the detention of yeshiva students and married men who refuse to enlist in the Israel Defense Forces. The demonstration is organized under the leadership of former Chief Rabbi and current President of the Council of Torah Sages of the Shas party, Yitzhak Yosef, alongside senior rabbis from the community.

Ahead of the protest, prominent spiritual leaders including Council of Torah Sages members Moshe Maya and Shlomo Mahpud, as well as Rabbi Nissim Ben Shimon, issued a public statement urging the community to take to the streets. They condemned the military conscription laws and government pressure as "spiritual genocidal decrees threatening the youth," sharply criticizing the harsh conditions in military prisons where the detainees are held. The rabbis emphasized that the arrests target students for studying Torah in Israel and called on everyone to protest, describing the infringement on religious lifestyle as more severe than physical harm.

The rabbis concluded their appeal by demanding full public participation: "We call on all Torah scholars and anyone moved to come and join the massive rally in the city streets." The protest is scheduled to begin at 9:30 p.m. and will span Ashal Avraham and Rabinov streets in the Ramat Elhanan and Ramat Aharon neighborhoods of Bnei Brak. Authorities anticipate heavy traffic congestion and changes to public transportation routes in the area.