Ultra-Orthodox Protest Jerusalem Arrest of Deserter, Police Use Stun Grenades

Hundreds of ultra-Orthodox protesters demonstrated in Jerusalem on Sunday evening following the arrest of a military deserter, Yaari Lieberman. The demonstrators blocked the light rail line on Hayim Bar-Lev Street, prompting police to use stun grenades to disperse them. Lieberman, who was married just last week, was arrested by military police and sentenced to 20 days in prison, according to a statement from the Jerusalem Faction of the ultra-Orthodox community.

This harsh reaction to the arrest stems partly from Lieberman's recent marriage. An earlier attempt to arrest him at his parents' home in Modi'in about a month ago failed when hundreds of protesters arrived and prevented the apprehension.

The Jerusalem Faction announced that "a decision was made in the rabbinical court of the Eda Haredit to launch a broad public campaign against the arrest of the groom." They also declared a protest rally to be held Monday outside the gates of Prison 10.

Lieberman was initially arrested last month but released after hundreds of ultra-Orthodox individuals surrounded his family's building, clashed with police, and prevented soldiers from leaving with the detainee. Subsequently, police extracted military police officers from the building under security escort and later forcibly cleared protesters from the street using batons and riot police.