Hundreds of protesters from the Peleg Yerushalmi faction blocked Highway 4 at Geha Junction in Bnei Brak this evening, following the arrest last week of Alon Samadja, a bochur at Yeshivas Tiferes Shraga in Yerushalayim.
The demonstration was called by Rav Tzvi Friedman, rosh yeshiva of the Peleg faction, in response to what the group describes as a planned operation by military police to arrest yeshiva students who have not reported for IDF service.
Samadja was detained last week at his home in the Beit Vagan neighborhood of Yerushalayim. According to the account, military police officers telephoned him claiming a package was waiting at the building entrance; when he came downstairs, he was arrested.
Israeli police had prepared in advance for the possibility of traffic disruptions, anticipating road closures on Highway 4 between Aluf Sadeh and Em Hamoshavot in both directions, as well as heavy congestion along Jabotinsky Street in Bnei Brak.
