Haredi protests erupt at multiple locations, Route 1 and Route 6 blocked

The blockage on Route 6, courtesy of the photographer. Haredi protests have begun at several locations, and Routes 1 and 6 were blocked. News Desk C14, 4 minutes ago, 7 1

Following the outcry and anger in the Jerusalem Faction over the arrest of Haredi draft evaders at the Solberg home, dozens of protesters began taking to the streets at several locations across the country. Particularly intense demonstrations are expected today, after the Jerusalem Faction declared yesterday that "Israel Police have crossed another red line, and in effect declared a severe escalation" and called for a "significant and dramatic intensification of the protests."

The Haredi protests, which are expected to be especially turbulent today, Wednesday, have now begun at several locations across the country, following the arrest yesterday of 17 Haredi draft evaders who took part in riots outside the home of Justice Noam Sohlberg. Dozens of protesters went into the streets on the Jerusalem Faction's orders, enraged by the arrests and by the intention to transfer the detainees to the custody of military authorities.

This is what was written yesterday in a statement distributed by the Jerusalem Faction: "The process of handing over to the military authorities the yeshiva students who were released today from custody as part of the Solberg events has begun. In the last few minutes, 5 of the yeshiva students contacted their families from Prison 10. From this stage on, preparations are underway for the possibility of a significant and dramatic escalation in the protests starting tomorrow."

It was also written that with the arrest of the draft evading protesters, a red line had been crossed, and the Haredi public was called to protest: "By doing so, Israel Police has crossed another red line, and in practice declared a severe escalation in the obsessive persecution being waged by state authorities against Torah students. Tomorrow we will all go out to a determined and uncompromising struggle for the honor of the Torah and those who study it, with a clear cry that will be heard throughout the country: to prison, and not to the army."

See: Protesters tried to stop the convoy of detained draft evaders at the Russian Compound 9 yesterday at 16:32 | C14 Desk

The faction also published a general blockade map expected during today's protests, along with the statement: "In light of the continuing hunt against Torah students, the protest is intensifying, massive demonstrations tomorrow in the central region. In light of the continued persecution by the authorities in the Land of Israel against Torah students, and the disgraceful and shocking hunt for them, and against the backdrop of the continued arrest of yeshiva students and their imprisonment in military prison, Maran the pillar of instruction, Rabbi Ovadia Yosef Auerbach, and the yeshiva heads, may they live long, ordered to go out and intensify the protest even further against the persecution of the sons of Torah in the Holy Land."

It should be noted that protests also took place yesterday, when dozens of protesters went into the streets in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and Ramla, and clashed with police forces. The protesters expressed anger over the arrests and the intention to transfer the detainees to military authorities. In Jerusalem, the protesters gathered in the area of the Russian Compound and tried to disrupt the movement of vehicles transporting detainees from the nearby detention facility. Tensions and clashes were recorded between the protesters and police, who increased their presence in order to disperse those disturbing the peace. At the same time, Haredim also demonstrated near the Abu Kabir detention facility in Tel Aviv.