Haredi protesters plan demonstration on Highway 4 following arrest of draft dodger

Haredi protesters from the Jerusalem Faction plan to block Highway 4 near Bnei Brak on Monday afternoon at 5:00 p.m. to protest the arrest of a haredi draft dodger. This demonstration follows numerous protests throughout the year against military conscription and arrests of draft evaders.

Earlier this week, Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara called for renewed arrests and stricter economic sanctions against military draft evaders, warning that weak enforcement undermines the draft process and creates unequal enforcement.

Military officials noted that fewer arrests lead to fewer prosecutions, harming effective draft enforcement and leaving recruitment potential unrealized, despite a significant increase in Haredi enlistment over the past year.