Haredi Protesters Clash with Israel Police over Arrests of Draft-Refusers

Israel's haredi divide has become a test of national unity

Israel's haredi crisis is about more than military service; it's a test of shared responsibility and national cohesion.

Israel Police use batons, stun grenades on Haredi protesters blocking key road

The hardline ultra-Orthodox Jerusalem faction intensified its protests this month following the police decision to hand over to the Military Police 19 yeshiva students arrested after the attempt to storm the home of Supreme Court Deputy President Noam Sohlberg

Israeli police rip pants off ultra-Orthodox Jews

A group of Haredi demonstrators blocked a major highway near Tel Aviv in an anti-draft protest, triggering a heavy-handed police responsePublished 17 Jun, 2026 22:52 | Updated 18 Jun, 2026 05:40Israeli police have clashed with Haredi Jews who blocked a major highway near Tel Aviv in protest over the arrest of a draft dodger from the ultra-Orthodox community.Dozens of protesters blocked traffic in both directions on Route 4 east of Tel Aviv early…

Haredi protesters clash with Israel police over arrests of draft-refusers

Police shut down sections of central Israel’s Route 4 in both directions near Bnei Brak on Wednesday morning after dozens of Orthodox (Haredi) protesters blocked the highway during rush hour in a demonstration against the arrest of Haredi men accused of avoiding military service. The protesters, identified as activists from the Jerusalem Faction, gathered near […] The post Haredi protesters clash with Israel police over arrests of draft-refusers…

MK Yaakov Tessler Accuses Police of Brutality, Says ‘Chareidi Blood Has Become Cheap’

As demonstrations over the military draft issue continue, MK Yaakov Tessler of United Torah Judaism delivered a blistering condemnation of police conduct following clashes Wednesday between protesters and law enforcement officers. The Chareidi lawmaker accused police of using excessive force against demonstrators and claimed that officers crossed the line from law enforcement into outright abuse. “The brutal cruelty we witnessed today—police throwing grenades, striking people with batons, tearing protesters’ clothing, and abusing them mercilessly—is not law enforcement,” Tessler said. “It is a dark outburst of rage born from systematic brainwashing against Chareidim. Chareidi blood has become cheap.” Tessler argued that the confrontations were the predictable outcome of what he described as ongoing incitement against the Chareidi community by political leaders and media figures. “The shocking scenes are the direct result of the wild and ongoing incitement against the Chareidi public,” he said. “When an entire media establishment and irresponsible politicians portray Chareidim as the enemy, police officers on the ground get the message, and the result is a complete loss of control.” According to Tessler, the protests reflect deep frustration within the Chareidi community over the treatment of Torah students and the continued efforts to draft yeshiva students into military service. “Yeshiva students are not criminals, and Torah study is not a crime,” he declared. “This protest stems from profound pain over the systematic persecution of Torah learners in Eretz Yisroel. The Torah world will not surrender to violence driven by hatred.” His comments came after widely circulated footage from demonstrations near Bnei Brak showed confrontations between protesters and police, sparking a fierce public debate over the conduct of both demonstrators and law enforcement authorities. {Matzav.com}