Ultra-Orthodox Anti-Draft Convoys Turn Violent, Disrupt Traffic Across Israel and Injure Pregnant Driver

Ultra-Orthodox anti-draft convoys disrupted traffic across Israel on Wednesday, with slow-moving convoys and road blockages as police moved to keep demonstrators from reaching Military Prison 10 near Kfar Yona.

“Pregnant woman injured, country-wide clashes as massive ultra-Orthodox draft protests turns violent Over 7,000 vehicles gridlock major routes nationwide, sparking fierce clashes between secular residents and ultra-Orthodox demonstrators over military conscription arrests Mass vehicle convoys organized by ultra-Orthodox protesters caused severe traffic congestion on major Israeli highways on Wednesday, resulting in a multi-vehicle accident, violent street brawls, and a firearm incident”

i24NEWS

The demonstrations began in the afternoon from dozens of locations, including Jerusalem, Bnei Brak, Beit Shemesh, Ashdod, Elad, Arad, Netanya, Tiberias, Safed, and Haifa, and heavy congestion was reported on major routes including Highways 1, 4, 6, 20, 40, 443, 444, and 531.

i24NEWS

In Arad, secular residents staged a counterprotest and blocked vehicles driven by Haredi demonstrators, with footage showing pushing, punches and kicks.

ynetglobal reported that one resident identified only as S. said, “They broke my arm and I ended up in the emergency room,” after she came to block the vehicles following an injury two days earlier.

In a separate account, i24NEWS said a 29-year-old heavily pregnant driver was moderately injured in a chain-reaction collision on Highway 1 near the Sha'ar Hagai interchange, and United Hatzalah medics treated her at the scene before she was transported to the hospital.

In Arad, Arad Mayor Yair Maayan called for calm, urging, “I call on everyone to stop immediately — the violence, the incitement and the harsh reactions on social media,” while also saying that “People are allowed to demonstrate and people are allowed to demonstrate against demonstrators. That is democracy — but not violence.”

The Media Line reported that several ultra-Orthodox lawmakers joined the protest, including United Torah Judaism MK Yitshak Goldknop and Shas MK Michael Malkieli, and it quoted Goldknop telling Kol Barama radio, “There will come a day when we turn the country upside down.”

Israel National News

The Jerusalem Post said the convoy organizers’ stated goal was the “immediate release of all detainees of the Torah world,” to halt arrests and to revoke what they define as “decrees against Torah students and their families,” according to a statement released by the organizing committee.

In contrast, the Jerusalem Post also cited defense establishment sources saying, “this is the enforcement of the law,” framing the anti-draft action as resistance to legal conscription rather than a protest over policy.

The Jerusalem Post further reported that police observed protesters getting out of their vehicles at Harel Interchange on Highway 1 and occupying traffic lanes on foot, and from that moment the protests were declared illegal.

The Media Line said police blocked vehicles from entering neighborhoods near Military Prison 10 after residents prepared counterdemonstrations, and it quoted Kfar Yona Mayor Albert Taieb saying, “After the destruction and damage in last week’s ultra-Orthodox protest, we will not allow anyone to enter.”

“The country’s highways returned to normal congestion levels on Wednesday evening after thousands of haredi (ultra-Orthodox) demonstrators blocked Highways 1 and 4 in mass nationwide anti-IDF draft protests”

The Jerusalem Post

i24NEWS described a nationwide mobilization against the ongoing arrests of yeshiva students who refuse to report for mandatory military service, and it said the most severe traffic disruption occurred on Highway 1 near the Sha'ar Hagai interchange.

The Jerusalem Post reported that highways returned to normal congestion levels on Wednesday evening after thousands of haredi demonstrators blocked Highways 1 and 4 in mass nationwide anti-IDF draft protests.

It also reported that police sources did not rule out the possibility that the Jerusalem Faction would attempt to hold impromptu protests later, in light of an unofficial message circulating on social media.

ynetglobal added that the clashes in Arad also centered on public transportation and commercial spaces, including a city bus line operated by Metropoline being replaced during peak hours by a de facto gender-separated route, which the report said is illegal in Israel and that passengers are entitled to sit wherever they choose.