Ultra-Orthodox Protest Disrupts Traffic, Injures Reporter and Officer

Ultra-Orthodox protesters, followers of Rabbi Tzvi Friedman from the Jerusalem Faction, blocked major roads including Highway 4 and the Geha Interchange near Bnei Brak on Thursday during peak hours. They also obstructed train tracks in the Petah Tikva area.

During the confrontations, protesters surged into the roads, ignoring police calls and resorting to violence. A police officer sustained a head injury from a thrown stone. Reporter Shani Weissman of i24NEWS was physically assaulted while covering the protest on Highway 4, with demonstrators pushing her, spitting, and throwing bottles at her and cameraman Nadav Aviss, calling her a "shiksa" (a derogatory term for a non-Jewish woman).

Meir Fried of i24NEWS condemned the violence against journalists, stating that reporters must feel safe to do their jobs without threat or physical harm. The Israel Police, anticipating the protests, declared them illegal and began using crowd dispersal methods to break up the demonstrations.

Traffic was also blocked on Highway 4 between the Aluf Sadeh interchange and Umm al-Fahm. Police urged the public to avoid these areas, seek alternative routes, use navigation apps, and stay updated on traffic reports. The police statement emphasized their commitment to allowing protests within legal boundaries but vowed to prevent public disorder, disruptions to traffic, and any actions endangering public safety.