New Ultra-Orthodox Group Plans Another Vehicle Protest to Expand Road Demonstrations

One week after a major ultra-Orthodox protest disrupted traffic across Israel, a new organization is coordinating another convoy demonstration. Several ultra-Orthodox activists are negotiating with managers of medical and charitable organizations affiliated with ultra-Orthodox volunteers to organize the convoy, similar to the previous protest led by Agudat Yisrael against military conscription and the detention of draft-dodgers. This time, however, the plan is to use vehicles from these organizations, such as ambulances and first aid cars, to increase the protest's impact.

Last week's protest caused severe traffic congestion on multiple highways, including Highway 1 near Jerusalem, Highway 6, and Highway 4 near Hod Hasharon. The demonstrations lasted about four hours, ending around 8:00 PM, but the convoys did not reach their intended destination, Military Prison 10. During the slow-moving convoy near the Sha'ar HaGai interchange, a traffic accident injured a 29-year-old pregnant woman who was hospitalized in moderate condition. Police reported that some protesters exited their vehicles and stood on the roads, urging organizers and participants to adhere to agreed protest terms. Clashes between ultra-Orthodox protesters and other road users were also documented.

Simultaneously with the protest, a mass brawl broke out in Arad. Police warned that if the convoys are obstructed, they would respond by blocking roads. The new planned convoy aims to escalate the scale of ultra-Orthodox road protests while leveraging emergency vehicles to complicate police intervention.