19 Protesters Arrested at Justice Solberg’s Home Found to Be Draft Dodgers

At least 19 of the protesters arrested during the break-in at the home of Supreme Court Justice Noam Solberg have been identified as draft dodgers and are expected to be transferred to the Military Police in the coming hours.

The development follows a review of the identities of dozens of demonstrators arrested at Solberg’s home in Alon Shvut. According to a report by Li Ayish on i24NEWS, the 19 are considered obligated to enlist and will therefore not be handled only through the civilian legal process.

Instead, they are expected to be handed over to the Military Police Criminal Investigation Division for continued detention and possible proceedings within the military justice system.

Police officials estimate that most of the remaining detainees, who were not found to have indications of desertion or unusually severe violent offenses, will be released during the day under restrictive conditions, including orders keeping them away from the area. Police are expected to seek extended detention for only four suspects.

The arrests followed last week’s incident, in which dozens of extremist protesters arrived unexpectedly at Justice Solberg’s home, rioted at the scene, smashed windows in the house and car, and damaged planters near the entrance.

The demonstrators were protesting the arrest of draft deserters. Police arrested around 60 people at the scene, and their detention was later extended.

Following the incident, the Prime Minister’s Office issued a condemnation of the attack and said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had checked on the welfare of Justice Solberg and his family. Netanyahu also said he expected law enforcement authorities to act firmly against the rioters.

Shas chairman Aryeh Deri and Degel HaTorah chairman Moshe Gafni issued a joint statement condemning the violence, while also criticizing the Supreme Court over what they described as the continued persecution and trampling of Torah learners.

The two Charedi leaders said they had repeatedly warned that the legal campaign against yeshiva students would lead to radicalization and anarchy, but stressed that violence has no place in the Torah world and is completely unacceptable.

They also called on right-wing party leaders, who quickly condemned the attack, to condemn what they called the ongoing persecution of yeshiva students.

MK Yitzchak Goldknopf also condemned the violence, saying that while he fully supports Torah learners whose status has been harmed under the current government, violent acts have no place in the Charedi public, contradict daas Torah and damage the legitimate struggle to protect the Torah world.