Furious Faction Protests: Arrested Intruder into Solberg’s Home Released at Abu Kabir

Photo: David Keshet

Furious faction protests: Arrested intruder into Solberg’s home released at Abu Kabir

Eliyahu Amar, 3 hours ago

Following claims that 19 of the extremists arrested in the Solberg unrest would be handed over to military authorities, hundreds of ultra-Orthodox extremists launched a series of emergency protests in Jerusalem, at Abu Kabir, in Ramla, and in the Sharon area. The Edah HaChareidis ordered yeshivas to close and to join the protest, while calling for a “war of annihilation.” In Jerusalem, clashes with police were reported, and at Abu Kabir one of the detainees arrested during the protest near the home of the Deputy President of the Supreme Court was released.

The protests by the extremist factions in the ultra-Orthodox public resumed today, Wednesday, amid fears that 19 yeshiva students arrested would be transferred to military authorities. Hundreds of protesters arrived at several locations across the country, including the Russian Compound in Jerusalem, the Abu Kabir complex in Tel Aviv, Nitzan Prison in Ramla, and Hadarim Prison in the area of Highway 4.

After the protests began in the Jerusalem faction, reports said that one of the detainees arrested during the violent protest near the home of Deputy President of the Supreme Court Noam Solberg was released from custody at Abu Kabir. He is a married yeshiva student from the extremist circles, whose arrest became one of the symbols of the struggle being waged by extremist elements in the ultra-Orthodox public against the law enforcement and draft authorities.

Earlier, the Edah HaChareidis issued an unusual statement under the headline, “To Shake the World,” claiming that the authorities were seeking to “hand over dozens of boys and married yeshiva students to military prison.” According to the statement, members of the Edah HaChareidis rabbinical court, led by Rabbi Moshe Sternbuch, instructed the public to protest outside prisons across the country in order to prevent the transfer of the detainees.

In response to the directive, the Edah HaChareidis announced the closure of its affiliated kollelim during the afternoon hours, and many of the students joined the protest sites. Organizers called on the public to arrive at four central locations, the Russian Compound in Jerusalem, Abu Kabir in Tel Aviv, Nitzan Prison in Ramla, and Hadarim Prison between Ra’anana and Netanya.

In Jerusalem, clashes developed between protesters and police near the Russian Compound. Police moved to disperse the gathering after, they said, there were attempts to block the movement of vehicles transporting detainees. During the events, riot dispersal measures were used, including stun grenades and a water cannon. The protesters threatened to intensify the demonstration if the detainees were transferred to the Military Police.

In a police statement, it was said that large forces are operating in the area to prevent roadblocks and disturbances of the peace. Police stressed that they would not allow harm to public order or disruption of the work of law enforcement authorities.

The current protests come after a week of escalation. Last night, hundreds of ultra-Orthodox extremists blocked major roads in Jerusalem and Beit Shemesh in protest of the arrest of draft evaders and the arrest of those involved in the protest near Solberg’s home. During the events, objects were set on fire, roads were blocked, and clashes with police were reported. Police declared the gatherings illegal and worked to disperse the protesters, and one person was arrested in Jerusalem.

Similar protests also took place last weekend in Jerusalem and Beit Shemesh. In Jerusalem, the demonstrators gathered outside the Lev HaBira police station, and some tried to break into the station grounds and even surrounded the building during the protest.

The peak of the events was recorded last week, when dozens of protesters הגיעו לביתו של השופט העליון נעם סולברג, caused property damage, broke windows, flowerpots, and jars at the entrance to his home, and protested against High Court rulings on the issue of yeshiva student enlistment. After the incident, police stopped a bus carrying the protesters, and more than 70 people were arrested for questioning.

Abu Kabir, ultra-Orthodox protests, Jerusalem faction, Israel Police, Noam Solberg