Ultra-Orthodox Protesters Block Route 4 Over Military Deserter Arrests

Ultra-Orthodox extremists blocked Route 4 near the Gan Yavne interchange on Sunday morning to protest the arrest of two ultra-Orthodox military deserters transferred to the Military Police.

The flash protest was organized by followers of Rabbi Tzvi Friedman, a radical faction known as the "Hatzrafnikim" within the Jerusalem Faction, who oppose conscription into the IDF.

Police and the IDF recently discussed a large-scale operation to arrest ultra-Orthodox draft dodgers, though disagreements arose regarding military police personnel deployment for public order support.

The IDF stated that military forces handle arrests while the Israel Police is responsible for maintaining public order and dispersing riots.