Haredi Soldiers Attacked During Jerusalem Rally Supporting 'Solberg Detainees'

Hundreds of Haredi Jews gathered in Jerusalem on Thursday evening to support 63 Haredim recently detained for their alleged involvement in violent disturbances outside the home of Supreme Court Deputy President Noam Solberg. During the rally, three Haredi soldiers serving in the Netzah Yehuda Battalion were attacked by the crowd at the reception for the detainees. The event began with a car procession from Beit Shemesh to Jerusalem, followed by a march toward Kikar HaShabbat, where protesters carried signs declaring, "We will never serve in the enemy's army." They shouted insults at police and threw objects at officers present.

The 63 detainees were arrested following violent incidents on June 3 outside Solberg's residence in Alon Shvut. The protesters, opposing the enlistment of Haredi yeshiva students and recent Supreme Court rulings on the matter, caused damage to Solberg's home and vehicle, breaking windows, flowerpots, and damaging the entrance. After the unrest, participants attempted to leave by bus but were stopped by police. Solberg's wife, Meira, described the damage as reminiscent of Kristallnacht, emphasizing the pain caused within the Jewish community.

The unrest sparked widespread condemnation across political and judicial circles. According to the indictment, the protest was organized with prior advertisements in Bnei Brak and transportation arranged via two buses and a minibus, though the organizer's identity remains unknown. Protesters displayed posters accusing Solberg of persecuting Haredi Judaism and placed Israeli flags marked with swastikas in the street. Neighbors were alarmed, with some mistaking the event for a security incident.

Among those arrested were yeshiva students classified as draft evaders, whose intended transfer to military police triggered further protests in Jerusalem, Beit Shemesh, and outside detention centers nationwide. Demonstrators blocked roads, clashed with police, and attempted to storm the Lev HaBira police station. Ultimately, indictments were filed against only four suspects, with most detainees released.