An ultra-Orthodox soldier rescued from a shop in Mea Shearim
Residents of the ultra-Orthodox neighborhood in Jerusalem congregated near a shop, hurling insults at a soldier; a police car swooped in to rescue the soldier who was unharmed; at the same time, Binyanei Hauma in Jersualem cancels ultra-Orthodox rally.
The rescued soldier refused to file a complaint with the police. In a video captured at the scene, a few Haredim are seen crowding a shop in which the soldier was cornered, shouting and even throwing a hat at a policewoman.
Meanwhile, the International Convention Center Binyanei Hauma located in the capital announced that it was canceling a huge rally of the Jerusalem faction that was scheduled to take place on Tuesday, where thousands of draft-evading yeshiva students were to participate. At the event, Rabbi Shmuel Auerbach was expected to address the young people, preaching on the importance of not showing up at the recruitment centers.
According to the Binyanei Hauma administration, the organizers had misled them, stating that the purpose of the conference was to "strengthen the faith," while in fact this was an evening in honor of draft dodgers. "The center is committed to maintaining the law, and will not allow events calling for breaking the law and encouraging deserters from the IDF," the statement said, adding that the Jerusalem branch said they were reviewing the decision and contemplating legal measures.
Earlier in the day, the Jerusalem faction of the ultra-Orthodox community announced that it was expanding its protests against the arrest of the yeshiva students and intending to hold fiery demonstrations at Ben Gurion Airport during one of its busiest times of the year, in a manner that might delay the departure of passengers.
In an "important announcement" published by the Committee to Save the World of Torah, the organization responsible for the demonstrations against the draft, it was written: "In light of the escalation in the government's harassment of prisoners of the world of Torah, it was decided to expand the protests so that it would reach the entire world… the protesters will be carrying signs in English and other languages.”
The announcement also noted that “out of consideration for the passengers, the committee will soon be informing of the dates of the demonstrations to allow them the opportunity to prepare for the disruptions, so they can either change the date of their flight or make sure to arrive to the airport several hours ahead of time."
However, the organizers clarified that "if the early publication, intended for the benefit of the public, leads to hostile deployment on the ground, which will interfere with and prevent the protests, we will be forced to carry out the protest at different times without advance notice."
(Translated and edited by N. Elias)
