Draft law chaos
Peleg Yerushalmi Faction Blocks Route 4 in Draft Protest
Ultra-Orthodox protesters blocked Route 4 near Bnei Brak on Sunday afternoon, disrupting traffic in both directions as demonstrations escalated against the arrest of yeshiva students who failed to report for IDF draft orders.
Ultra-Orthodox protesters blocked Route 4 near Bnei Brak on Sunday afternoon, disrupting traffic in both directions as demonstrations escalated against the arrest of yeshiva students who failed to report for IDF draft orders.
The protesters belong to the Jerusalem Faction, a hardline stream within the ultra-Orthodox community that rejects any form of military conscription. Dozens of demonstrators lay down on the roadway and refused police orders to clear the area, bringing traffic to a standstill along one of Israel’s busiest arteries.
The protests followed a call by Rabbi Azaryah Auerbach, one of the faction’s senior figures, who instructed followers to take to the streets “with force and determination” between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. He described the arrests as persecution of Torah students and said there was a religious obligation to protest what he framed as state repression of religious life.
Organizers circulated the slogan “If you arrest Torah learners, the state will also be stopped,” signaling an explicit intention to disrupt public order. Demonstrations were planned at multiple locations nationwide. Earlier in the day, protesters also blocked entrances to Ashdod, and similar disruptions were reported in other areas.
Police said Route 4 was closed in both directions from the Aluf Sadeh interchange to the Em HaMoshavot interchange. Southbound traffic from Em HaMoshavot was diverted toward Petah Tikva. Officers were deployed to manage the situation and reopen the road, though no immediate arrests were reported at the Bnei Brak protest.
The demonstrations come amid stepped-up enforcement against draft evasion following recent arrests of yeshiva students who ignored conscription notices. While most ultra-Orthodox political and rabbinic leadership has avoided direct confrontation in recent weeks, the Jerusalem Faction has taken a more aggressive line, frequently resorting to road blockages and mass protests.
Similar protests earlier this month led to the temporary closure of major roads near Ashkelon and Ashdod, prompting criticism from local authorities and commuters over repeated disruptions.
Police said they were prepared for further demonstrations later in the day and urged the public to avoid the area and use alternative routes.