Clashes Erupt in Safed Over Sabbath Public Transport as Haredim Protest and Secular Residents Respond

For nine consecutive Saturdays, Safed has witnessed escalating tensions between Haredi and secular communities centered around the operation of public transportation on the Sabbath. The main city square, Agad Square, has become a frequent battleground where Haredi protesters, arriving from outside the city, block buses operated by the company Netiv Express, which provides transportation for soldiers and civilians during the weekend. On the latest protest, around 100 Haredi demonstrators gathered, opposed by several dozen secular residents. Safed police, led by Deputy Superintendent Haim Biton, have been managing the situation to minimize disruption, ensuring buses continue to run despite attempts by extremist protesters to block roads. A Haredi man previously banned by a judge for earlier disturbances was detained during the recent protest.

The phenomenon of Sabbath bus blockades has spread to other locations, including Miron’s central square, where similar protests occur. Within Safed, the southern neighborhood of Tzahal-Maor Haim is predominantly Haredi and remains free of public transportation and vehicle traffic on the Sabbath. Meanwhile, secular residents express concern over the tenure of the Haredi mayor, Yossi Kakon, who has recently attempted, unsuccessfully, to halt the protests. Haredim accuse Kakon of opposing religion, while secular residents blame him for the city’s increasing Haredization.

In response to the Haredi demonstrations, secular groups have organized counter-protest marches, including driving vehicles with music through the city on the Sabbath to signal their opposition to the disruptions. This ongoing conflict highlights the deep divisions in Safed over the city’s religious character and public life on the Sabbath.