Ultra-Orthodox Protests Erupt in Elad, Police Officer Injured

Mass riots lasting several hours occurred in Elad on the night of October 22, following the detention of a yeshiva student evading IDF service. Ultra-Orthodox protesters blocked the city's entrance, threw stones, and damaged a police vehicle. One officer sustained a head injury from a thrown stone, and the head of the Rosh Ha'ayin police station was hit by a bag of garbage. The protests were sparked by the arrest of a yeshiva student named Ettinger in Kfar Saba for driving without a license. During the process, it was discovered he was also evading military service. Military police were called to take custody of the student for transfer to Prison No. 10. Following this, activists from the ultra-Orthodox organization "Tzeva Shahor" (Black Color), which opposes IDF conscription, initiated protests, blocking the Ra'anana junction. The unrest then spread to Elad, where the detained student's yeshiva peers blocked the city's entrance, leading to clashes with police. Videos showed rioters puncturing patrol car tires and hanging onto the vehicle of former Elad Mayor Israel Porush, who arrived and urged the crowd to disperse. During the confrontations, a police officer was injured in the head by a stone and received medical attention. Another video captured a garbage bag hitting the Rosh Ha'ayin police chief. Local residents claimed police used stun grenades, including inside a yeshiva, injuring at least five students, one of whom was hospitalized. Meanwhile, the number of draft dodgers in Israel has reached 110,330, predominantly from the ultra-Orthodox sector, according to figures provided to the High Court of Justice on October 21. The IDF faces significant strain, with a projected shortage of approximately 12,000 soldiers, including 7,000 in combat units, by May 2026, potentially rising to 17,000 by January 2027. Reserve soldiers have served extensively, with 20% having served over 300 days in the three years since the "Swords of Iron" war began, and an additional 27% serving between 150 and 300 days.