A tense incident unfolded overnight in Cholon when a bochur from Yeshivas Ateres Shlomo was detained by police and faced possible transfer to the military authorities, prompting the activation of the “Tzeva Shachor” emergency alert system. The bochur was ultimately released, even as the arrest of another yeshiva bochur in Haifa a day earlier is expected to trigger major protests and possible road closures in the Bnei Brak area on Monday.
The Tzeva Shachor system, which alerts activists when yeshiva bochurim face possible arrest and transfer to the military police, was activated shortly after midnight following the detention at a Paz gas station near the Hashivah Junction in Cholon.
The bochur was held at the location for approximately half an hour. Despite initial concerns that he would be handed over to military authorities, he was eventually released without being transferred to the military police.
According to information from the scene, the detained individual is a talmid of Yeshivas Ateres Shlomo who was traveling to the yeshiva in Rishon LeTzion. Police were reportedly made aware that the Tzeva Shachor system had been activated, and a short time later the bochur was permitted to leave.
The overnight incident came just one day after the arrest in Haifa of Yisroel Guchfi, a talmid of Yeshivas Kfar Chassidim in Rechasim who previously learned at Yeshivas Beis Medrash Elyon.
Guchfi recently transferred to Yeshivas Kfar Chassidim at the beginning of the new zeman. On Sunday afternoon, he left his home in Bnei Brak’s Pardes Katz neighborhood and was traveling back to the yeshiva when he encountered a problem with an inspector in Haifa because of a malfunction involving his Rav-Kav transportation card.
Police were summoned to the scene and subsequently arrested Guchfi. After authorities determined that he was classified as a military draft evader, he was transferred into the custody of the military police.
The arrest has prompted the faction led by Rav Tzvi Friedman to prepare for protests in central Israel this evening. Although organizers had not yet finalized the precise location and time, the demonstration was expected to take place near the entrance to Bnei Brak on Highway 4 at approximately 6 p.m.
Police are preparing for potentially significant traffic disruptions along Highway 4 in both directions, particularly between the Aluf Sadeh Interchange and the Em HaMoshavot Interchange.
Authorities have also warned motorists of the possibility of severe congestion and additional road closures along the heavily traveled Jabotinsky corridor connecting Petach Tikvah, Bnei Brak and Ramat Gan.
Organizations assisting yeshiva bochurim facing military proceedings are providing Guchfi with legal representation and accompanying his family as his case moves forward.
{Matzav.com}
