Ultra-Orthodox Protesters Block Highway 4 Over Yeshiva Student's Military Detention

Protesters from the Jerusalem faction of the ultra-Orthodox community blocked Highway 4 near Bnei Brak in response to the arrest of a yeshiva student. Several dozen demonstrators gathered on the road, chanting slogans such as "Better to die than enlist," resulting in a blockade of the highway northbound from the Aluf Sadeh interchange and southbound from the Em HaMoshavot interchange. The police advised drivers from 3 p.m. to avoid the area due to expected traffic congestion and additional blockages on Jabotinsky Road in Bnei Brak.

The protest was sparked by the detention of Israel Gochfi, a yeshiva student whom the "Am Kadosh" organization claimed was "kidnapped to military prison." Gochfi was stopped on his way to the yeshiva due to a problem with his Rav-Kav transit card and was handed over to the military police after his identity was confirmed. According to the aid organization Am Kadosh, Gochfi, a student at Beit Midrash Elyon in Kfar Chassidim, was sentenced to 20 days in military prison.