Jerusalem Faction demonstrators block major Israeli highway and hurl rocks at police amid explosive protests over yeshiva draft arrests.
Chaos erupted near Bnei Brak on Thursday as radical ultra-Orthodox demonstrators from the Jerusalem Faction brought Route 4 to a complete standstill—in both directions—during a furious protest against the arrest of Haredi draft dodgers.
What began as a show of religious defiance quickly spiraled into violent clashes with Israeli police, who were pelted with rocks and verbally assaulted by protestors shouting “Nazis!” in a shocking display of rage.
Police have declared the event an unlawful gathering, as public order crumbled in central Israel’s densely populated traffic corridors. Route 4 northbound is currently blocked from the Aluf Sadeh Interchange, with vehicles rerouted to Route 471, while the southbound side is closed from Em Hamoshavot Junction, redirecting traffic into Petah Tikva.
The Jerusalem Faction, a hardline Haredi group staunchly opposed to military conscription, has repeatedly escalated its confrontations with law enforcement, viewing the arrest of non-enlisting yeshiva students as an attack on religious life.
This latest flare-up underscores the deepening divide between the ultra-Orthodox community and the state, with public safety, traffic flow, and civil discourse once again caught in the crossfire.
