Dozens of Chareidi protesters blocked the main entrance to Yerushalayim on Shabbos afternoon, preventing Egged buses from entering the capital before the conclusion of Shabbos in an escalating protest against public transportation operating during the holy day.
The demonstration unfolded near the Chords Bridge and Weizmann Boulevard, where protesters moved into the roadway and erected makeshift barriers. At least 13 intercity buses arriving from northern Israel were ultimately prevented from continuing toward the city, according to multiple Israeli reports.
The buses operate on routes connecting northern Israel with Yerushalayim and arrive in the capital while Shabbos is still underway. According to reports, the routes have operated for years under the existing status quo, with passengers dropped off outside the Central Bus Station rather than inside the terminal.
The protesters specifically targeted the Egged buses, with reports from the scene indicating that private vehicles were largely able to maneuver around the demonstration during its earlier stages. The roadway itself was subsequently blocked as the protest expanded.
Journalist Liran Tamari, who documented the scene, initially reported that approximately 10 buses had already been stuck for half an hour while there was no visible police presence. Later reports placed the number of stranded buses at at least 13.
The protest was the second consecutive week in which Chareidim demonstrated at the entrance to Yerushalayim over buses traveling during Shabbos. A local Chareidi report said buses were unable to proceed toward the Central Bus Station for an extended period.
Police eventually announced that reinforced forces were heading to the entrance to Yerushalayim to disperse the protesters and restore normal traffic. Officers also directed motorists toward alternative routes as the blockade continued.
According to a report in Yeshiva World News, police made the announcement approximately an hour after the blockade began and only minutes before the conclusion of Shabbos. Security officials reportedly sought to proceed cautiously because of the timing and the potential for clashes with the protesters.
The demonstration eventually ended after Shabbos, with police reporting that the protesters had left the area and traffic had returned to normal. One police account said the disruptions lasted nearly two hours before the demonstration was dispersed.
The Yerushalayim protest was part of a broader series of confrontations over chillul Shabbos that unfolded in several Israeli cities over the weekend.
In Tzfas, approximately 20 Chareidi protesters attempted to interfere with bus traffic at the Meron Junction on routes operating between Tzfas and Nahariya. Similar demonstrations have taken place there repeatedly on Shabbos.
Tensions have also erupted inside Yerushalayim itself over businesses operating on Shabbos, including demonstrations outside the “Basimta” café.
Yerushalayim Deputy Mayor Adir Schwartz sharply condemned the blockade, calling it a “crossing of a red line.” He argued that attempts to shut down the capital on Shabbos through pressure would encounter resistance from Yerushalayim residents.
{Matzav.com}
