Haredi crowds protest against arrest of IDF defector
Haredi crowds affiliated with the radical Lithuanian faction of the ultra-Orthodox community wreak havoc across Israel in protest against arrest of one of its adherents who failed to respond to conscription orders.
Despite the police insisting that the demonstrations were coordinated in advance which included permission for the temporary closure of Route 4 in the Bnei Brak area for ten minutes as well as the orderly removal of the crowds, the scenes did not remain peaceful for long.
Indeed, the scenes of anger quickly descended into chaos as trash cans were set alight by the enraged protesters, who poured onto the streets of Jerusalem and Beit Shemesh.
The demonstrations were largely orchestrated at the behest of Rabbi Shmuel Auerbach, the leader of the Lithuanian faction of the ultra-Orthodox community—a radical stream whose adherents strongly oppose any cooperation whatsoever with the the IDF—who called upon his followers to renew demonstrations until the defector's release had been secured.
The youngster in question, who is affiliated with the faction, is said to have ignored all military conscription orders sent to him and failed to show up at the enlistment office.
Last week, a complaint was submitted to the police on the matter after which it became immediately apparent that the individual in question was a defector. He was subsequently handed over to the army, arraigned and sent to prison.
The main areas affected by the protests were Shilat Junction, Beit Shemesh, Bar-Illan Junction in Jerusalem, Yavneh Junction and Bnei Brak. Protesters were also dotted across various other locations.
Not everyone emerged from the riots unscathed. In Jerusalem, two police officers were lightly wounded after rioters hurled objects at them as they attempted to block the Bar-Illan Junction. In addition, two of the demonstrators were arrested, while in Beit Shemesh another policeman was lightly injured.
