Israel: Ultra-Orthodox protesters block Highway 4 over draft evasion arrests

Protests erupted across Israel on Sunday following the arrest and transfer of several yeshiva students to military police custody on suspicion of evading military service. The demonstrations were organized by the ‘Ratzfnikim’, a radical anti-conscription wing of the Jerusalem Faction led by Rabbi Tzvi Friedman.

Protesters blocked Highway 4 near the Yavne Interchange, causing significant traffic disruptions. Israel Police responded to the illegal demonstration by using force and stun grenades to disperse the crowds and restore order. Authorities advised motorists to use alternative routes while working to reopen the road.

The unrest follows the recent detention of several students, including Yedidya Mizrahi and Yonatan Mostakis from the Or HaChaim Yeshiva, who were reportedly sentenced to 20 days in military prison. The arrests have intensified tensions regarding the absence of a new law governing Haredi enlistment in the Israel Defense Forces.