Haredi Protests Erupt Nationwide After Draft Dodger Arrests

JERUSALEM — Thousands of ultra-Orthodox demonstrators from the Jerusalem Faction and the Edah HaChareidis are expected to stage disruptive protests across Israel today following the arrest of three young yeshiva students in Yehud for evading mandatory military service. The arrests—made during a protest at a construction site allegedly involving ancient graves—have ignited a wave of outrage among hardline Haredi groups.

"This is a moment of spiritual annihilation," declared Rabbi Avraham Auerbach last night, urging what he called a “massive resistance campaign” across the country.

Planned Protest Hotspots:

Authorities are bracing for significant disruptions at the following locations:

Jerusalem – City entrance, and Route 1 (East Jerusalem)
Bnei Brak – Geha Interchange (near Coca-Cola junction)
Modi’in – Latrun Interchange
Beit Shemesh
Tzfat

Protest organizers have previously misled police by announcing one location and marching elsewhere. In Bnei Brak, they frequently block Route 4 or Jabotinsky Street, while in Jerusalem they target major intersections such as Jaffa Street and Sarei Yisrael.

Clashes, Fires, and Arrests

Tensions boiled over Tuesday night in Jerusalem and Beit Shemesh, where hundreds took to the streets. Protesters blocked roads, set garbage bins on fire, and hurled objects at police. Anti-draft chants included “Nukhba terrorists!” – a slur aimed at elite IDF units.

Riot police responded with crowd dispersal tactics. One individual was arrested for setting fires and inciting disorder. He is now under investigation.

The Arrests That Sparked the Fire

The three arrested men were identified at a protest site in Yehud. After their IDs were run through police systems, it was confirmed they were wanted for failing to report to the IDF draft board. One of them is reportedly the grandson of a prominent Hasidic rebbe from the Mishkenot HaRoim sect.

By order of Israel’s Attorney General, police transferred the three detainees to the Military Police (MP) for further legal processing. They are being represented by attorney Menachem Stauber.

Haredi Leaders Call for Escalation

A joint statement from the "Committee to Save Torah Judaism," backed by senior rabbis from both the Jerusalem Faction and the Edah HaChareidis, warned that “massive disruptions and roadblocks” should be expected:

“The entire exile will burn like a bonfire,” the group wrote in a statement. “This is a decree to uproot Torah from Israel, enabled by those who falsely claim to be Haredim.”

As thousands prepare to flood the streets, Israeli law enforcement faces a dilemma: how to maintain order while avoiding a broader religious-political conflagration.