Lead

A large group of haredi (ultra-Orthodox) protesters succeeded in halting the arrest of a draft dodger in Maale Adumim near Jerusalem on Sunday night, according to Israeli public broadcaster KAN News, as reported by the Jerusalem Post. After being alerted to the attempted arrest, dozens of protesters arrived at the scene, and military police left shortly afterward, prompting celebrations among the crowd.

Coverage Comparison

The Jerusalem Post reported the incident in two separate articles, providing overlapping but distinct details. The first article, published June 22, focused on clashes outside Military Prison 10 in Beit Lid, while the second, published June 29, covered the Maale Adumim arrest and the broader protest movement. Both articles draw on KAN footage and other Israeli media reports, but the Jerusalem Post's coverage is the only directly cited source for these events.

Key Claims

  • Arrest halted in Maale Adumim: According to KAN, as cited in the Jerusalem Post, a large group of haredi protesters successfully prevented the arrest of a draft dodger in Maale Adumim. The protesters arrived after being alerted by the extremist Jerusalem Faction, and military police left the scene without making an arrest.
  • Police officer's statement: Additional footage shared by KAN shows a police officer telling protesters, "I didn't even bring any patrol cars, I came alone," a statement that drew praise from the crowd.
  • Clashes at Military Prison 10: Two days before the Maale Adumim incident, IDF soldiers and haredi protesters clashed outside Military Prison 10, with protesters swarming the entrance and checkpoints, shouting and pushing aside metal barricades and soldiers.
  • Sohlberg as focal point: Supreme Court Deputy President Justice Noam Sohlberg has become a focal point of protests following his order to increase arrests of draft evaders. A riot broke out outside his home on June 3, causing property damage, and cards with an Israeli flag and swastika were found nearby.
  • Nationwide protests: On Wednesday, thousands of hard-line haredi demonstrators blocked Highways 1 and 4 in mass nationwide anti-IDF draft protests, with heavy traffic reported on 28 other major roads. The stated goal was the "immediate release of all detainees of the Torah world," halting arrests, and revoking "decrees against Torah students and their families."
  • Planned demonstration: Israeli media reported that the Gur Hasidim sect is planning a much larger demonstration, with a convoy expected to depart from various points toward Military Prison 10, in coordination with the Israel Police.
  • Proposal to freeze arrests: Defense Minister Israel Katz called to advance a proposal that would temporarily freeze the arrests of haredi draft evaders, according to the Jerusalem Post.
  • Knesset legislation: The Knesset advanced contentious legislation to enshrine Torah study in a Basic Law, a move that has been a point of contention amid the draft debate.