Full coverage· Security· Updated 11:11

Haredi Protesters Block Major Interchange Over Draft Evader Arrests

Dozens of Haredi protesters blocked Highway 4 near the Yavne interchange on Sunday morning, disrupting traffic in both directions and prompting a police response. The protest was tied to the arrest of draft evaders, and drivers were told to avoid the area.

25 newsrooms · 4 languages · since 06:56

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Haredi Protesters Block Major Interchange Over Draft Evader Arrests — Illustration by baba

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What happened

01Dozens of Haredi protesters blocked Highway 4 near the Yavne interchange on Sunday morning, cutting traffic in both directions and causing major delays.
02Several outlets identified the demonstrators as members of the Jerusalem Faction, an extremist Haredi group protesting arrests linked to draft evasion.
03The Jerusalem Post said about 40 to 50 protesters took part, while Israel National News said the blockade started earlier than planned.
04JDN said the protest opposed the arrest of yeshiva students, and Israel National News described it as a “price tag” response to weekend arrests of two draft evaders.
05Police were on scene directing traffic, and later reports said officers began clearing the road and reopening it.
06Ynetnews said police used stun grenades to disperse what it called an illegal demonstration near the Yavne Interchange.
07Some reports said motorists clashed with protesters at the blockade, and earlier similar protests were cited as having led to arrests for assaulting officers.

The demonstrators were identified by several outlets as members of the Jerusalem Faction, while others described them more generally as Haredi protesters. JDN said the protest was organized by an extremist Haredi faction protesting the arrest of yeshiva students, and The Jerusalem Post said about 40 to 50 people took part. Israel National News said the blockade began earlier than planned and described it as a “price tag” response to weekend arrests of two draft evaders in the Shfela region.

Police were present at the scene and directed traffic, while later reports said officers began clearing the road. Ynetnews said police used stun grenades to disperse what it called an illegal demonstration, and Hamal reported that police removed both demonstrators and civilian drivers caught in the blockade.

Some reports said drivers and protesters clashed at the scene. Several outlets said the disruption caused major delays on the highway, and earlier similar protests were cited as having caused traffic jams and, in one case, arrests for assaulting police officers.

Summarized by baba from the reports of 14 newsrooms. Updated 11:02