An ultra-Orthodox (haredi) protester was dragged by a vehicle at the entrance to Jerusalem during the ongoing protest against the arrest of draft dodgers on Thursday afternoon.
The protest, organized by the anti-IDF draft extremist haredi Jerusalem Faction (Peleg Yerushalmi), is taking place throughout central Israel and Jerusalem.
In Jerusalem, the city’s light rail operations were halted due to the protests. In central Israel, Israel Police closed Highway 4 to traffic. Earlier in the day, officers were deployed near the Bnei Brak Interchange and Geha Junction, at the entrance to Petah Tikva.
Preperations have been made by police in the area of Ben-Gurion Airport as well, in case of protests beginning at nearby locations. Based on previous protests, the demonstrations last between two and three hours and cause severe traffic disruptions during rush hour.
Police recommend the public stay updated on road blockages and congestion and, where possible, travel via alternate routes.
The police preparations come amid concerns that protests against the arrest of IDF draft evaders could lead to attempts to block major roads, as has occurred during previous ultra-Orthodox demonstrations.
Police are familiar with protest hotspots in and around Bnei Brak, where demonstrations have previously escalated into violent confrontations with officers. In some cases, police have been forced to use force to disperse protesters and reopen blocked roads.
A second major event is expected to add to traffic congestion, with a concert taking place Thursday evening at Ramat Gan Stadium.
The show, featuring Israeli artists Omer Adam, Odaya, Osher Cohen, Idan Raichel, Ben Zur, and Rita, is expected to draw approximately 17,000 spectators, adding significant vehicle and pedestrian traffic to roads leading to the stadium and surrounding area.
Police will have to manage both events simultaneously, assigning officers to maintain public order at the protest sites while also securing the concert and directing traffic around the stadium.
The main concern is that road blockages during the protests, should they occur, could also affect traffic heading toward Ramat Gan Stadium and cause widespread disruptions throughout the area.
Avi Solomon and Hodaya Ran contributed to this report.