Haredi Protest Resumes on Highway 4 Over Draft Evasion Arrest

Haredi protesters are preparing to block Highway 4 near Bnei Brak on Monday afternoon in response to the arrest of Israel Gochfi, a yeshiva student who failed to report for military service. The demonstration, organized by groups from the Jerusalem Faction, is expected to begin around 4 p.m., though the exact time and location may change. Gochfi was detained in Haifa while traveling to Rekhasim due to a problem with his public transport card, which led to the discovery that he was wanted for draft evasion. He was subsequently handed over to the military police. The legal aid organization "Am Kadosh," which supports draft evaders, described the arrest as a "kidnapping to a military prison" and is providing legal assistance to Gochfi and his family.

This protest marks a return to significant demonstrations after a relatively quiet period in the anti-draft movement among Haredim. The last major protest occurred about two weeks ago when demonstrators blocked Highway 4 in both directions for several hours following another draft evasion arrest, causing severe traffic congestion in central Israel. During that protest, participants wore yellow badges labeled "Haredi" and chanted slogans such as "Die rather than enlist" and "Prison, not the army," drawing sharp criticism for their use of Holocaust imagery.

The ongoing conflict centers on the enforcement of military conscription laws targeting yeshiva students, with recent legislative efforts to reduce arrests stalled by a Supreme Court injunction. Haredi leaders, including Rabbi Moshe Hillel Hirsch of the Lithuanian Haredi community, maintain that the state will ultimately abandon attempts to draft yeshiva students. Rabbi Hirsch warned that the struggle could lead to restrictions on civil rights for the Haredi community, including the potential loss of voting rights.

If the planned protest proceeds, motorists around Bnei Brak and Highway 4 should expect traffic disruptions and roadblocks later Monday afternoon.