Unprecedented violent clashes broke out tonight between the Israeli police and ultra-Orthodox protesters at the Gaha intersection near Bnei Brak, not far from Tel Aviv, after protesters blocked major roads in protest of the arrest of a yeshiva (religious institution) student accused of evading military service. The police deployed dozens of stun grenades and used batons to disperse protesters, several of whom were injured and evacuated by ambulance. A local journalist was also arrested while documenting the clashes. Highway 4 and the surrounding roads were closed and caused significant traffic disruptions. The demonstration was organized by followers of Rabbi Zvi Friedman, a hard-line faction of the Jerusalem faction, following the arrest of Alon Samadja, a yeshiva student who was detained for not reporting for military service. The Chairman of Torah Judaism, Member of Knesset Ya'akov Asher, responded to the conduct of the police during the protests: Despite our opposition to roadblocks, we cannot remain silent in the face of the disturbing photographs showing protesters, including a young man with special needs, lying on the ground, injured and bleeding. Such behavior is a red line that cannot be ignored. I call on the Commissioner of Police, Dan Levy, to act immediately and summon for investigation the police officers who acted in violation of the law and with excessive force.

Unprecedented violent clashes broke out tonight between the Israeli police and ultra-Orthodox protesters at the Gaha intersection near Bnei Brak, not far from Tel Aviv, after protesters blocked major roads in protest of the arrest of a yeshiva (religious institution) student accused of evading military service. The police deployed dozens of stun grenades and used batons to disperse protesters, several of whom were injured and evacuated by ambulance. A local journalist was also arrested while documenting the clashes. Highway 4 and the surrounding roads were closed and caused significant traffic disruptions. The demonstration was organized by followers of Rabbi Zvi Friedman, a hard-line faction of the Jerusalem faction, following the arrest of Alon Samadja, a yeshiva student who was detained for not reporting for military service. The Chairman of Torah Judaism, Member of Knesset Ya'akov Asher, responded to the conduct of the police during the protests: Despite our opposition to roadblocks, we cannot remain silent in the face of the disturbing photographs showing protesters, including a young man with special needs, lying on the ground, injured and bleeding. Such behavior is a red line that cannot be ignored. I call on the Commissioner of Police, Dan Levy, to act immediately and summon for investigation the police officers who acted in violation of the law and with excessive force.