Haredi Yeshiva Students Arrested Spark Protests in Central Israel

Israel Gochfi, a yeshiva student from Kfar Hasidim near Rekhasim and former student of Beit Midrash Elyon, was arrested in Haifa on Wednesday and handed over to the military police as a draft evader. The arrest occurred after a dispute with a ticket inspector over a transportation card malfunction. Gochfi left his home in the Pardes Katz neighborhood of Bnei Brak en route to his yeshiva when the incident happened. Legal aid organizations are providing him with support, and his family is being accompanied through the process.

Following this arrest, the small faction led by Rabbi Tzvi Friedman, known as the Jerusalem Faction, is preparing to hold protests tomorrow in the central region, likely near Highway 4 at the entrance to Bnei Brak around 5 p.m. This marks an escalation in enforcement against draft evasion within the Haredi community.

This arrest follows another over the weekend involving Moti Mishkovsky, a student of Netivot Yitzchak Yeshiva in Tel Aviv and grandson of Rabbi Nathan Zuchovsky, chairman of the spiritual committee of Yated Ne'eman and head of Gaon Yaakov Yeshiva. Mishkovsky was detained near Ben Shemen Forest and later transferred to military police at the Maccabim checkpoint. His arrest drew attention within the Lithuanian Haredi community due to his family background and yeshiva affiliations.

The current wave of protests comes after about five weeks of relative calm without widespread demonstrations against draft evasion arrests. The Jerusalem Faction students are leading the renewed protests. Police are preparing for traffic disruptions on Highway 4 between Aluf Sadeh and Em HaMoshavot interchanges and warn of heavy congestion and possible roadblocks along Jabotinsky Road connecting Petah Tikva, Bnei Brak, and Ramat Gan.

Last week, tensions rose when a yeshiva student summoned to the Lahav 433 police offices in Lod for testimony was arrested by military police after giving his statement, sparking criticism from MK Moshe Abutbul who accused the police chief of violating commitments to the Haredi public. Authorities urge drivers to avoid protest areas and use alternative routes, emphasizing that while the right to protest is respected, public safety and freedom of movement must be maintained.