Full coverage· Security· Updated 20:30

Police Disperse Ultra-Orthodox Protest, Arrest Three

Police forcibly dispersed an illegal protest by hundreds of Haredi demonstrators on Highway 4 near the Geha Junction on Thursday, October 29, 2026. The protest, organized by the Peleg Yerushalmi movement to oppose the arrest of an army deserter, blocked the highway in both directions between the Aluf Sde and Em HaMoshavot interchanges, causing extensive traffic jams in central Israel.

3 newsrooms · 2 languages · since 18:20

Plus

Police Disperse Ultra-Orthodox Protest, Arrest Three — Illustration by baba

Watch · 2 clips

Clips the newsrooms posted about this story. They play from YouTube, Instagram, Telegram, TikTok and X.

What happened

01Police forcibly dispersed an illegal Peleg Yerushalmi protest on Highway 4 near the Geha Junction on Thursday.
02The protest by hundreds of Haredi men against the arrest of an army deserter blocked the highway in both directions.
03Police used stun grenades to clear the road, resulting in several injured demonstrators and three injured police officers.
04Three protesters were arrested on suspicion of disturbing the peace and assaulting officers during the demonstration.
05A television news crew was attacked by protesters before the highway was successfully reopened to traffic.
06Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir accused Police Commissioner Dany Levy of appeasing the left and scapegoating Haredim after recent elections.
07Knesset Member Yaakov Asher called for an investigation and a hearing for the officers involved in the dispersal.

After demonstrators refused to leave, police declared the gathering unlawful and moved in to clear the road. Officers used stun grenades during the dispersal, resulting in several injuries among the demonstrators. Three police officers were also injured during the clashes, and a television news crew was attacked by protesters. Police arrested three protesters on suspicion of disturbing the peace and assaulting officers before reopening the highway to traffic.

Following the incident, Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir fiercely criticized Police Commissioner Dany Levy, accusing him of changing his agenda to appease the left after recent elections and using Haredim as scapegoats. A senior police source suggested Levy was trying to curry favor with Yair Golan, who is expected to become the next National Security Minister. Additionally, Knesset Member Yaakov Asher demanded an investigation and a hearing for the officers involved in the dispersal.

Summarized by baba from the reports of 3 newsrooms. Updated 22:17

Latest report: Ynet. Read Ynet’s original