Israeli police are facing mounting outrage in the Chareidi community following the transfer of yeshiva bochur Moshe Steiner to the Military Police after he arrived for questioning in an unrelated criminal investigation, with the Peleg Yerushalmi preparing major protests and roadblocks in central Israel on Wednesday afternoon.

According to B’Chadrei Chareidim, police issued a clarification Wednesday amid growing criticism over Steiner’s arrest, stressing that contrary to earlier reports, he had not been summoned merely as a witness.

Police said Steiner was questioned under caution by the Lahav 433 investigative unit as a suspect in serious criminal offenses. During the investigation, authorities discovered that he was also wanted by the Military Police for failing to report for IDF service.

“Following incorrect and misleading reports, and in order to prevent the continued misleading of the public, we will set the record straight,” police said. “The suspect was summoned for questioning under caution by Lahav 433 for serious criminal offenses. Upon learning that the suspect was wanted by the Military Police, a report was transferred as is customary and required. Any other publication is incorrect and intended to reinforce a biased and false narrative.”

But the clarification appears to have done little to calm the anger within the Chareidi community, where the case has fueled concerns that Chareidim wanted by the IDF could risk arrest and transfer to military authorities when dealing with civilian police — even in unrelated matters.

Chareidi figures involved in the issue told B’Chadrei that the police response failed to address what they described as a rapidly deteriorating relationship between law enforcement and the Chareidi community.

“The embarrassing police statement, in an attempt to minimize the damage, does not provide any answer whatsoever to the severe crisis of trust that is developing between the police and the Chareidi public surrounding the arrests of draft evaders,” they said.

“If this bochur was such a dangerous criminal, they would have knocked on his door at two in the morning with handcuffs. In any event, what relevance does the fact that he is suspected of an offense have to handing him over to the military?”

Another source sharply criticized Police Commissioner Daniel Levi over what he described as an inconsistent policy.

“The Police Commissioner is creating absolute chaos here,” the source said. “Now it is unclear when they hand someone over and when they don’t. What is the guiding principle?”

The controversy comes after Shas MK Moshe Abutbul contacted National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir over the incident on Tuesday and demanded answers. Chareidi officials have warned that such incidents could make members of the community reluctant to contact police even when they are victims of crimes, out of fear that their military status could lead to their detention.

According to the report, Steiner had been summoned by Lahav 433 on suspicion of involvement in a scheme to fraudulently obtain driver’s licenses. Investigators suspect he acted as an intermediary between people seeking licenses despite not being qualified and individuals who allegedly took driving tests in their place.

Police say it was during that investigation that officers discovered Steiner was wanted by the Military Police, resulting in his transfer to military custody.

Meanwhile, the Peleg Yerushalmi is preparing demonstrations in central Israel in response to Steiner’s transfer. Organizers have not publicly announced the precise locations, but B’Chadrei reported that major traffic disruptions are expected in the Bnei Brak area beginning at approximately 4:00 p.m.

Based on previous Peleg demonstrations, possible protest locations include Route 4 and Jabotinsky Street.

Steiner’s detention comes after approximately three weeks without reported arrests of Chareidi draft evaders across Israel.

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