Some 400 haredim are protesting against the arrest of a yeshiva student who ignored his army call-up notice in Jerusalem's Kikar Hashabat.
The protesters are hurling stones at police officers and torching trash cans. Police forces are using water canon to disperse the rioters. Adjacent roads have been sealed. Two protesters have been arrested.
Related stories:
Hundreds protest outside Prison 6 after arrest
Britain wooing Israel's haredi Jews
Haredi press ignores Metzger arrest
The 19-year-old from Kiryat Malachi agreed to report to the military induction center for his first mobilization order but has since ignored all other summons. On Tuesday he was tried to 14 days in military prison.
The protest at Kikar Shabbat (Photo: Aharon Vahav)
The protest in Jerusalem
(צילום: אהרון והב, חדשות 24)
- The protest was led by Rabbi Shmuel Auerbach, head of the Maalot Hatorah Yeshiva in Jerusalem and leader of the Bnei Torah Lithuanian faction. Rabbi Auerbach is known for his fierce rejection of military service.
A haredi sign promoting the protest (Photo: Aharon Vahav)
The teen was following the rabbi's guidelines not to report to the induction center. Rabbi Auerbach and Rabbi Yitzchok Tuvia Weiss, leader of the Eda Haredit faction, met with a rabbi from the teen's yeshiva on Tuesday and issued similar guidelines during the meeting.