Ultra-Orthodox intend to block roads due to draft dodger's arrest: "The Police Commissioner broke a promise"

Ultra-Orthodox individuals who oppose conscription into the IDF intend to block roads today, Wednesday, in protest against the arrest of a draft dodger — following approximately three weeks without any such arrests. The blockages are expected in the Bnei Brak area around 16:00; past experience shows that demonstrations usually take place on Highway 4 or Jabotinsky Street, though other locations are also possible.

According to MK Moshe Abutbul of the Shas party, the incident involves a yeshiva student who was summoned to testify at Lahav 433 regarding a fraud case. The MK claims that at the end of the testimony, a police officer escorted the student to the parking lot and handed him over to the Military Police.

"This is crossing a red line and a severe violation of the Police Commissioner's commitment to the Ultra-Orthodox public. This is not how you build trust. This is how you destroy it," Abutbul stated.

In a letter addressed to Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gvir, Abutbul suggested that guidelines might not have been clarified in the field. He demanded an immediate and clear clarification of procedures to allow Ultra-Orthodox individuals to file complaints at police stations without the risk of arrest. He warned that continued conduct of this kind could severely damage public trust in the police and cause citizens to avoid seeking help when necessary, which could potentially cost human lives.

It should be recalled that the coalition passed a law to protect draft dodgers from arrest until the elections, but it was canceled by an interim order of the Supreme Court. However, since the IDF has not received the tools to effectively arrest draft dodgers and the police are not assisting, arrests in Ultra-Orthodox neighborhoods are rarely carried out due to the risk of crowds attacking the Military Police.