Chaos Erupts in Ramat Gan: Haredi Protesters Flip Police Van in Fiery Standoff Over Yeshiva Student's Arrest 

Tensions escalated overnight in Ramat Gan as military police attempted to arrest a yeshiva student classified as a deserter, sparking massive protests that led to the overturning of a police vehicle and the arrest of three individuals.

The incident unfolded late Tuesday into Wednesday when military investigators renewed efforts to detain deserters from yeshivas. Officers arrived at the home of the student, a member of the Sephardic community, in an attempt to apprehend him for evading military service. The student was not at home but at his yeshiva, "Rabbeinu Chaim Ozer," where he studies.

Hundreds of protesters quickly gathered at the scene, launching a large-scale demonstration against the military police, who were forced to leave without the student. Demonstrators blocked roads, prompting a heavy police response to disperse the crowd and facilitate the officers' exit.

Chaos ensued as protesters overturned a police van amid the unrest. Authorities arrested three suspects for rioting, including one affiliated with the extremist Peleg Yerushalmi ("Jerusalem Faction").

This event comes amid broader legal pressures on the Israeli government regarding military conscription. On Tuesday, Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara sent a letter to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, stating that the government is failing to enforce equal enlistment into the IDF.

She referenced a recent High Court ruling mandating the government to develop effective, equitable, and proportionate enforcement measures within 45 days. The ruling prohibits continued benefits directly or indirectly tied to draft evasion.

Baharav-Miara urged urgent inter-ministerial coordination involving the Prime Minister's Office, Defense Ministry, Finance Ministry, Justice Ministry, and the IDF to establish enforcement policies for all population segments. She offered her team's assistance, including proposals for immediate civil enforcement tools without new legislation.

No injuries were reported in the clashes. The incident highlights ongoing debates over ultra-Orthodox exemptions from military service, with similar arrests resuming after a pause.

Arresting a few Haredi deserters is a ridiculous waste of time and resources and will go nowhere towards solving the draft crisis. Yet the military police continue, for reasons no one understands.