Hundreds of Haredi men riot in Jerusalem and Beit Shemesh over draft-arrest protests

Hundreds of ultra-Orthodox men rioted in Jerusalem and Beit Shemesh on Friday during protests against arrests linked to draft-dodger enforcement. In Jerusalem, some demonstrators tried to approach the police station in the Russian Compound, while in Beit Shemesh others were seen throwing stones and other objects at officers. Police used force to disperse the crowds, and law enforcement and Border Police units continued clearing the areas later into the night.

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The unrest came after arrests connected to earlier violence at the home of High Court Deputy President Noam Sohlberg. According to the supplied report, protesters were demonstrating against the detention of people arrested over those riots. The protests took place after the start of the Sabbath, which made the timing notable in a dispute already marked by strong religious and political tensions.

A secular Israeli was reported injured and bleeding, and said he had been kicked in the head. The incidents add to a wider confrontation over military service exemptions for ultra-Orthodox Jews in Israel. The issue has remained politically sensitive since the Hamas attacks of 7 October 2023, which intensified debate over military manpower and draft enforcement.

The latest protests also drew a sharp response from opposition politician Avigdor Liberman, who criticised the rioters in a public post. His comments reflected the broader political divide over Haredi draft exemptions and the role of religious communities in the military burden. The earlier attack on Sohlberg's residence in Alon Shvut appears to have been a key trigger for the latest arrests and protests.

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In that incident, dozens of Haredi protesters reportedly shattered windows, broke flowerpots and smashed the windshield of a car in the garage. The report also said a small Israeli flag with a swastika was raised during that protest. Those details suggest the dispute has moved beyond routine demonstrations into repeated episodes of public disorder and property damage.

The involvement of the Russian Compound police station in Jerusalem is also significant because it is a central law-enforcement site in the city. Attempts to break through a gate there indicate a direct challenge to police control, while the Beit Shemesh clashes show the unrest was not confined to one location. The use of Border Police units suggests the authorities treated the incidents as a serious public-order problem rather than isolated protest activity.

The reported injury to a bystander also underlines the risk to civilians during such confrontations. What remains unclear from the available material is the full number of arrests, the extent of injuries, and whether further detentions will follow. It is also not clear whether the protests will continue or whether police will bring additional charges over the earlier attack on Sohlberg's home.

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