Thousands of vehicles clogged major highways across Israel on Wednesday in what organizers described as the largest coordinated vehicle protest ever held by the Chareidi community, as demonstrators demanded the release of imprisoned yeshiva bochurim and avreichim and protested government actions targeting lomdei Torah.
The unprecedented protest united virtually every segment of the Chareidi world, with participation from Chassidic communities, Degel HaTorah supporters following the guidance of HaRav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, members of the Peleg Yerushalmi, and many Sephardic participants acting under the direction of HaRav Moshe Maya. Organizers said the broad participation reflected rare unity across the Torah world.
Within minutes of the protest’s launch, severe traffic congestion spread across central highways, prompting many commuters to leave work early as roads became increasingly gridlocked. Throughout the afternoon, minyanim for Mincha were held on roadsides and at protest locations as participants paused to daven together.
At several locations, confrontations erupted between protesters and frustrated motorists. Some participants were physically assaulted by passing drivers.
The focal point of the demonstration was Prison 10, where numerous yeshiva bochurim and avreichim are being held. Although police established heavy security and blocked thousands of protesters from approaching the prison, organizers erected powerful sound systems outside the restricted area to broadcast messages of encouragement directly toward the prison.
Recorded addresses from leading Gedolei Yisroel, interspersed with singing and tefillos, were played over loudspeakers aimed toward the prison walls so the incarcerated bnei Torah could hear the messages.
After more than four hours, organizers announced the conclusion of what they called the first stage of the protest.
In a statement, the organizing committee said the demonstration was ended “out of responsibility and consideration for travelers, families, and those in need of the roads,” stressing that participants had been instructed to minimize unnecessary hardship to the general public.
The committee estimated that nearly 10,000 vehicles participated in the slow-moving convoys throughout the afternoon.
They warned that additional protest actions could follow if arrests of yeshiva students continue.
United Torah Judaism chairman Yitzchak Goldknopf praised the protesters, saying they demonstrated “responsibly and without violence,” while condemning attacks against participants and calling on police to prosecute those responsible.
Several violent incidents were reported during the protest. Organizers released footage that showed a motorist displaying a handgun toward protesters on Highway 1. No shots were fired.
In another incident, organizers said Betar Illit Deputy Mayor Gedalyahu Eisenstein was allegedly assaulted and choked during one of the convoys.
Elsewhere, organizers claimed a truck driver armed with a knife and clubs exited his vehicle on the Ayalon Highway and smashed the windows of one of the protest vehicles while frightened passengers remained inside.
The organizing committee also accused police of issuing traffic citations in an effort to discourage participation, saying its legal team would challenge any enforcement actions it believes infringed upon the right to protest.
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One Response
Even if you are involved in a most righteous protest – if you stop a truck driver from doing his job, the truck driver should get compensation for lost work. I don’t know what the beis din will say to these indirect damages, but a true tzadiq will pay the driver.