Ultra-Orthodox Protest in Jerusalem Blocks Roads and Disrupts Rail Service
Ultra-Orthodox protesters blocked a major Jerusalem road and disrupted light rail service on Sunday following the arrest of a military draft deserter.
Ultra-Orthodox demonstrators blocked Bar Lev Road in Jerusalem on Sunday evening, causing significant disruptions to light rail traffic following the arrest of a military draft deserter.
The protest took place near Route 1 and the Shivtei Israel light rail station. Acting on police instructions, transit operators split Light Rail Line 1 into two temporary sections: operating between Neve Yaakov North and Ammunition Hill, and between City Hall and Hadassah Ein Kerem. Service was suspended between Ammunition Hill and City Hall.
Demonstrations also erupted in the Ramat Beit Shemesh neighborhood. Footage from Jerusalem showed police deploying stun grenades to disperse the crowd.
The protests were triggered by the arrest of an ultra-Orthodox man who was detained in front of his bride as they stepped off a bus on their way to a bank branch. The young man was sentenced to 20 days in a military prison, sparking widespread outrage and prompting police warnings of further demonstrations nationwide.
