Residents and officials in Kfar Yona are preparing for a confrontation ahead of a planned large-scale chareidi protest on Wednesday against the imprisonment of draft resisters at Military Prison 10. Following last week’s demonstration, which drew thousands and caused major traffic disruptions throughout the area, city leaders say they will not allow a repeat of the chaos.

Mayor Albert Taieb announced that residents intend to block access roads leading through the city if the expected convoy of thousands of vehicles arrives. Organizers of the protest plan to send slow-moving convoys from multiple locations across Israel to the prison between 4:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., a move officials fear could again paralyze traffic and disrupt daily life.

“We will block the entrance to the neighborhood,” Taieb said. “Kfar Yona will not be under siege again.” He noted that schools, extracurricular activities, and other local events were disrupted during last week’s protest, forcing the municipality to shorten the school day and deal with widespread traffic congestion.

Local residents have also vowed to organize their own vehicle blockade if necessary. Neighborhood committee chairman Miki Gerbi said residents are prepared to drive slowly and obstruct access routes to prevent the protest convoy from entering the area.

The demonstrations are being held in protest of the continued detention of yeshiva bochrim arrested and held in Military Prison 10. Last week’s protest drew thousands of participants, including the Gerrer Rebbe, and led to major road closures around the prison and surrounding communities.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)