All this for a parking ticket
New Details Emerge as Jerusalem Riots Continue
The riots on Bar-Ilan Street continue as violence escalates, now including stun grenades and overturned cars. New details have been released on how the events began as politicians begin to respond.
Israeli police on Thursday released new details about the violent disturbances in Jerusalem, as senior political figures across the spectrum weighed in sharply on the clashes, which left 10 officers injured.
According to a briefing circulated by journalist Nati Kalish citing sources within the Jerusalem faction of the extremist Haredi community, the incident began when a municipal inspector issued a fine to a young man affiliated with radical anti-draft circles. The youth reportedly confronted the inspector, and several others from the same groups arrived to assist him. The inspector then called police.
When officers arrived and detained the group, police discovered that all of the young men were draft evaders. According to the account, tensions escalated after police warned that the detainees could be transferred to military police custody. Fearing such a move, the suspects and their supporters began to riot at the scene.
Even after police reportedly backed off from transferring the detainees to the military authorities and sought to arrest the original suspect without involving military police, the crowd decided to resist, out of continued concern that he would ultimately be handed over.
Police later confirmed that 10 officers were injured during the disturbances, some requiring evacuation for medical treatment. Four suspects have been arrested so far in connection with the violence.
Additional details from the scene indicate that one yeshiva student who became caught up in the incident refused to roll down his car window when instructed by police. Officers then shattered the window and forcibly removed him from the vehicle. Police also used stun grenades against the crowd as part of efforts to regain control.
The events drew immediate political reactions. National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir said that “a red line was crossed.” Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Liberman went further, calling the riots “an act of terror.” Opposition leader Yair Lapid described the clashes as “an inconceivable failure of governance,” while Democrat MK Yair Golan blamed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for the situation.
Police said the investigation is ongoing and that further arrests are possible as authorities continue to restore order and assess responsibility for the violence.