Clashes in Jerusalem: Extremists Block Streets to Stop Infant Autopsies

What began as a heartbreaking medical tragedy in a Jerusalem daycare has rapidly transformed into a violent confrontation between religious extremists and law enforcement. On Monday evening, dozens of protesters from radical Haredi factions took to the streets of the Sanhedria and Bar Ilan neighborhoods to physically block the transfer of the bodies of Leah and Ari to the Abu Kabir Forensic Institute. These groups, fueled by a strict religious opposition to autopsies, have clashed with police, blocked public buses, and even shouted "Nazis" at officers. The unrest threatens to derail the criminal investigation into the infants' deaths, as the State Attorney’s Office insists that a full forensic examination is the only way to prove the negligence that led to the catastrophe.

Violence in the Streets

The protests reached a boiling point at the Bar Ilan intersection, a site already scarred by a recent tragedy where a teenager was killed during a similar riot just two weeks ago. Demonstrators have placed themselves in front of vehicles and engaged in physical scuffles with police units attempting to clear the roads. The parents of the deceased infants have also expressed their opposition to the autopsies, putting them at the center of a legal battle with the prosecution. While external examinations have already been completed at the forensic institute, officials stated that these preliminary checks were insufficient to reach a final conclusion regarding the cause of death. This deadlock has left the bodies of the infants in a state of limbo while the streets around them burn with anger.

The Political Response

The incident has triggered a wave of condemnation from across the political spectrum, with leaders demanding an end to the "pirate" daycare culture that flourishes in the shadows of government oversight. Opposition leader Yair Lapid expressed his heartbreak for the families but spoke out against the toxic discourse surrounding the event, stating that the death of children should never be a political tool. Meanwhile, MK Avigdor Liberman attacked the lack of enforcement, questioning how many more of these "black market" nurseries are operating without a single inspector ever stepping foot inside. President Isaac Herzog called for the full force of the law to be applied, emphasizing that the supervision of early childhood settings is a critical component of national security. As the political bickering continues, the police remain focused on the immediate task of restoring order to the capital and securing the evidence needed to bring those responsible for Leah and Ari’s deaths to justice.