Protest is latest to target a High Court official, after home of Amit’s deputy Noam Sohlberg hit by riot earlier this month; mass Haredi demonstrations have also blocked roads
By and Charlie Summers
You will receive email alerts from this author.
Manage alert preferences on your profile page
You will no longer receive email alerts from this author.
Manage alert preferences on your profile page
Today, 5:34 am
Edit
Dozens of extremist ultra-Orthodox demonstrators rallied on Sunday outside the home of Supreme Court President Isaac Amit in Mevasseret Zion to protest the arrest of a Haredi military draft dodger.
Police dispersed the demonstration after a short while, according to Hebrew media reports.
It was the latest demonstration by Haredim to target a court official. Earlier this month, ultra-Orthodox rioters attacked the home of Deputy Supreme Court President Noam Sohlberg, smashing windows and causing property damage, while trying to break into the residence in the West Bank settlement of Alon Shvut.
On Sunday, prosecutors indicted four men from Beit Shemesh for rioting at Sohlberg’s home.
Other demonstrations have followed that one. On Thursday, mass protests were called in central Israel by the extremist Jerusalem Faction, after police transferred to IDF custody 19 draft dodgers who were arrested at the riot at Sohlberg’s home. At least two protesters were injured as thousands of Haredi men blocked central Israel highways and railroads, snarling traffic and clashing with police.
Get The Times of Israel's Daily Edition
by email and never miss our top stories
By signing up, you agree to the terms
The previous day, protesters gathered outside prisons in major cities across the country to rally against the arrests of the draft evaders. Three protesters were arrested on suspicion of rioting and attacking police officers in Jerusalem, with police saying they “attacked officers, threw objects and refused to obey the instructions of forces at the scene.”
The protests are escalating against the backdrop of a fierce national debate over the blanket exemptions from military service long afforded to Haredi men. A High Court ruling declared in 2024 that Haredi men must enlist, and the debate over enlistment has gained urgency amid the multi-front war Israel has fought since the Hamas-led October 7, 2023, attack.
The Israel Defense Forces have warned repeatedly of an urgent manpower shortage amid the fighting. But Haredi leaders have continued to push for the exemptions to be enshrined in law, claiming that army service is a threat to their way of life and seeking to have the state view Torah study as service on par with military duty.
Over the past two years, the military has sent out tens of thousands of enlistment orders to members of the ultra-Orthodox community following the High Court ruling. Most have ignored the orders, leading to large numbers of young men being classified as evaders and being subject to arrest or other sanctions.
If you’d like to comment, join The Times of Israel Community.
Read the full article at The Times of Israel →📄Source document: Walla Report→4 reports
The Jerusalem PostIndependentCenter2 days agoLight rail service in Jerusalem was partially suspended between the central bus station and Mount Herzl station due to protests by haredi (ultra-Orthodox) groups. The protests were in response to the arrest of a draft dodger earlier in the week. Demonstrations are also taking place near Prison 10, with Shas MKs Michael Malkieli and Yonatan Mishraki present at the events.
Bias read (Center): The article reports on an event without overtly favoring any side. It provides factual details about the suspension of the light rail service, the nature of the protests, and mentions the involvement of specific politicians without editorializing or using biased language.
The Times of IsraelIndependentCenter6 days agoDozens of ultra-Orthodox (Haredi) demonstrators gathered outside the home of Supreme Court President Isaac Amit in Mevasseret Zion to protest the arrest of a Haredi military draft dodger. Police dispersed the demonstration shortly after it began. This follows previous incidents where Haredi groups targeted court officials, including an attack on the home of Deputy Supreme Court President Noam Sohlberg earlier this month. Prosecutors have indicted four individuals from Beit Shemesh for their involvement in that incident. Additional protests occurred following the transfer of 19 draft dodgers to
Bias read (Center): The article presents events factually without overtly favoring any side. It describes the protests, their targets, and related legal actions neutrally, without using loaded language or emphasizing one perspective over another.
The Jerusalem PostIndependentCenter8 days ago Haredi activists rush to Ashdod checkpoint after draft dodgers detained in stopTwo 25-year-old haredi (ultra-Orthodox) draft dodgers were detained during a routine checkpoint stop in Ashdod. They contacted the 'Black Color' hotline, which mobilized around 100 haredi Jews to the scene. Police stated the protesters attempted to interfere with their operations but clarified the detainees were not formally arrested and the case was handed over to the Military Police. This incident occurred following broader protests by haredi groups against the military draft, which had previously disrupted major highways and the railway to the airport.
Bias read (Center): The article presents events factually without overtly favoring either side. It describes the actions of both the haredi activists and the police without evaluative language or emphasis on one perspective over the other. The framing remains neutral, focusing on the sequence of events rather than the
Official sources cited
- organisation Jerusalem Post Staff
The Jerusalem PostIndependentCenter12 days ago Haredi protesters block Jerusalem road over false reports of draft dodger arrestHaredi (ultra-Orthodox) protesters blocked a road in Jerusalem's Ramat Shlomo neighborhood after reports of a draft dodger's arrest, which police said were false and actually related to a traffic offense. Eight people were arrested during the unrest, which involved fires and a break-in at a police station, while Jerusalem District Police also raided homes of suspects tied to earlier June 1 riots in Beit Shemesh. Police Commander Avshalom Peled said authorities would not tolerate attacks on officers or police facilities and would continue enforcement against those involved.
Bias read (Center): The report leans on police statements and law-and-order framing ("riots," "rioters," "anarchy") with no haredi-community perspective, but it largely attributes claims to named sources and corrects the false report, keeping it near center.
Official sources cited
- government Jerusalem District Police Commander Avshalom Peled
- press release Ynet
IL