The Peleg Yerushalmi announced Sunday afternoon that it is postponing planned anti-conscription demonstrations in Jerusalem, Bnei Brak, and other locations across Israel for 24 hours amid what it described as significant progress in negotiations with military authorities regarding the release of imprisoned yeshiva bochurim and avreichim.
The announcement comes after a turbulent weekend that saw multiple arrests of draft evaders and growing tensions between the chareidi community, the police, and military authorities.
“In light of significant developments in contacts with the military authorities, and following serious and advanced negotiations taking place in recent hours regarding the release of a large number of yeshiva students and avrechim from military prison, it has been decided to postpone the planned protests by 24 hours,” the Vaad LeHatzalas Olam HaTorah said in a statement.
The organization stressed that the postponement does not constitute a cancellation of the demonstrations.
“If sufficient breakthroughs are not achieved, the protest actions will resume at full strength,” the group warned.
Responding to speculation that the announcement was intended to lower police readiness before surprise demonstrations, organizers insisted that “this is not a trick or a deception.”
According to the Peleg Yerushalmi, six yeshiva bochurim were arrested for draft evasion on Friday. Three were later released, while others remain in military custody. The organization also claimed that authorities attempted to arrest a seventh bochur near Kiryat Ye’arim at approximately 3:40 a.m. Sunday morning.
The developments follow Friday’s high-profile arrest of a Belzer avreich in Kiryat Gat, which sparked widespread outrage throughout the chareidi community. The avreich was ultimately released before Shabbos following intensive intervention by Deputy Minister Yisrael Eichler, senior askanim, and prominent chareidi officials serving in significant positions within the IDF.
The arrest led to sharp criticism from Belz and prompted emergency consultations amid concerns over the treatment of yeshiva students and avreichim.
It remains unclear who is conducting the negotiations with military authorities. Neither the IDF nor Degel HaTorah immediately commented on the talks. A senior Agudas Yisrael official reportedly stated that his party is not currently involved, despite Eichler’s efforts on behalf of those arrested last week.
For now, the planned demonstrations have been put on hold, but organizers made clear that if the negotiations fail to produce results, large-scale protests could resume within hours.
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4 Responses
In the interest of the entire Israeli population and for the protection of our soldiers in Lebanon and Gaza the best thing the IDF can do is STOP ARRESTING AND IMMEDIATELY RELEASE ALL IMPRISONED BNEI TORAH AND PERSECUTING CHAREIDIM!
Lock ’em up. If these so-called yeshiva bochurim were serious about Torah, they would not leave the Beis Hamedrah, and would apply themselves to learning with increased fervor. If these so-called yeshiva bochurim were serious about Torah, they would apply the guidance of דרכיה דרכי נועם, and would completely abandon their thuggery ways of dealing with the problem. If these so-called yeshiva bochurim were serious about Torah, they would be resistant to committing actions that are public menacing, like blocking streets and stopping people from going about their daily schedules. If these so-called yeshiva bochurim were serious about Torah, they would not get sucked into the mob mentality that adores violence.
The problem exists, but their idea of a solution is sinful, and only encourages more resistance from the anti-Chareidi forces.
Meanwhile, some arrests for disturbing the peace are in order.
The military authorities have denied any talks. It is very possible that this denial was the result of an outcry by the anti-haredi press straight after the announcement decrying any compromise and release of these “offenders”.
Little you know; just as the Arabs only understand force, so too, the police and leftists A-G & Co only understand violent protests. we made a peaceful million march, we begged and negotiated in good terms, but NOTHING helped – THEY ARE TREATING US LIKE THE NAZIS – VIOLENT PROTESTS ARE THE NATURAL RESPONSE!