Violent Clashes Erupt Outside Prison 10 as Protesters Block Vehicle Carrying Draft Evaders

Tensions boiled over Wednesday evening at the entrance to Prison 10, where a van transporting about 20 chareidi draft evaders was intercepted by demonstrators from major chassidic groups.

Witnesses reported that the protesters swarmed the vehicle as it approached the prison gates, demanding the release of the detainees and shouting at police and soldiers guarding the convoy. According to Galei Tzahal’s Daniel Grobais, the disturbance was not organized by the Peleg Yerushalmi but rather spearheaded by activists from the Ger community.

As the situation escalated into a full-scale confrontation, the van eventually turned around and departed the area, leaving behind a scene of chaos.

The clashes followed a wave of protests earlier in the week. On Tuesday, hundreds of demonstrators rushed to the Rechasim Junction after an alert was issued on the Peleg Yerushalmi “Black Color” hotline about the arrest of a yeshiva student who had been declared a deserter. Police ultimately backed down, and the detainee was released.

Meanwhile, military police made sweeping arrests Wednesday at Ben Gurion Airport, taking into custody about 25 more chareidi draft evaders. In total, roughly 70 deserters have now been jailed in military prisons across the country.

Galei Tzahal further reported that the true figure is significantly higher than the official tally. Dozens of draft evaders are said to have turned themselves in prior to the airport crackdown, believing this might allow them to secure permits to travel to Uman for Rosh Hashanah. These individuals are not counted among the 70 currently listed.

Officials are now anticipating an unusually large Rosh Hashanah davening inside the military prison facilities, given the unprecedented number of detainees.

{Matzav.com Israel}