Ultra-Orthodox Protesters Plan to Block Highway 4 Over Draft Evasion Arrest

On Monday afternoon, dozens of ultra-Orthodox protesters are expected to block Highway 4 near Bnei Brak in response to the arrest of Israel Gochfi, a yeshiva student who evaded military service. The demonstrators plan to gather after 5 p.m., though the timing may change unexpectedly. Gochfi was detained by military police after being identified when a transportation card malfunction occurred during his commute to a new yeshiva.

The protest is being led by followers of Rabbi Tzvi Friedman, associated with a militant faction of the Jerusalem Faction, which has recently resumed activism after a lull in arrests. About two weeks ago, similar protests blocked Highway 4 in both directions for several hours, causing major traffic jams. During that demonstration, protesters distributed yellow badges labeled "Haredi" and chanted slogans such as "Better to die than enlist" and "Prison, not the army." They also shouted derogatory remarks at a motorcyclist caught in the protest while police tried to clear the way.

One protester, Leib Cohen, told ynet that the yellow badge symbolized their identity as the Jewish people, Torah, and commandments, opposing what they see as attempts by the Zionist state to eradicate Torah life. He compared the situation to persecution by the Nazis and warned that without Torah and faith, death would be preferable.

Legislation to protect draft evaders from arrest until elections was passed by the coalition but later suspended by the Supreme Court. Since the IDF lacks the means to arrest evaders and police do not assist, arrests in ultra-Orthodox neighborhoods often provoke large crowds attacking military police, resulting in very few arrests of draft evaders in these communities.