Violent protests continued on Thursday against the arrest of Charedi draft evaders, with a separate attack on Israeli Tax Authority inspectors carrying out enforcement operations in the religious city of Bnei Brak.
At yesterday’s draft protest, which disrupted traffic for several hours, at least one officer was wounded after being hit in the head by a bottle, and two men were arrested in the protest that Israel Police said was illegal.
Demonstrators also threw rocks and other objects at police officers and smashed the window of at least one private vehicle.
According to Hebrew media reports, hundreds of demonstrators blocked the Geha Junction near Bnei Brak to protest the arrest of young Charedi men who failed to report for military service.
Earlier this week, the Knesset passed a bill freezing such arrests and prosecutions of those already detained as part of a deal between the Charedi parties and the governing coalition.
Protest organisers also announced a demonstration outside Military Prison 10 following the detention of a member of the Sanz Chasidic community.
The protests form part of a growing campaign by hardline anti-draft groups opposing efforts to increase Charedi enlistment following recent court rulings and enforcement measures.
At the same time, Tax Authority inspectors conducting enforcement activity in the Kiryat Vizhnitz neighbourhood needed to be evacuated by police after being surrounded by hundreds of yeshiva students and local youths.
Hebrew-language reports said eggs and stones were thrown at the officials, prompting police intervention and an emergency evacuation. One policewoman was reportedly subjected to verbal abuse during the incident.
The protests came as the High Court considered legal challenges connected to the treatment of yeshiva students and military service obligations, an issue that has become increasingly contentious since the court ordered the government to advance Charedi conscription and review state funding arrangements linked to draft exemptions.
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