Dozens of Ultra-Orthodox demonstrators blocked Jerusalem’s Tunnel Checkpoint after the arrest of a suspected draft evader, prompting a response from Border Police and Jerusalem District units. The protests follow a violent riot outside Supreme Court Justice Noam Sohlberg’s home after his order to step up arrests of draft evaders. Courts extended detention for 52 suspects and placed two under house arrest; authorities also arrested an additional suspect from Beit Shemesh. The unrest occurs amid legal and political pressure to create a new framework addressing Haredi draft evasion.
Dozens of Haredi Protesters Block Jerusalem Tunnel Checkpoint After Arrest of Draft Evader
Dozens of Ultra-Orthodox demonstrators blocked Jerusalem’s Tunnel Checkpoint on Sunday after police arrested a suspected draft evader, disrupting traffic and the checkpoint’s routine operations. Border Police from the Jerusalem periphery unit and officers from the Jerusalem District police were deployed to restore order and clear access routes.
Incident and Arrests
The demonstration followed a week of heightened unrest among anti-draft protesters. Authorities say the protest escalated amid anger over recent enforcement actions targeting draft evasion. On a related occasion earlier in the week, a violent riot erupted outside the home of Supreme Court Justice Noam Sohlberg after he ordered intensified arrests of draft evaders.
During that riot, protesters reportedly smashed windows, damaged Justice Sohlberg’s car and attempted to force their way into his residence before fleeing the scene. Police arrived soon after and detained dozens for disorderly conduct.
Court Actions
On Sunday the detained protesters were brought before the Jerusalem Magistrate’s Court. Judges extended the detention of 52 suspects by four days. Two additional defendants were ordered to full house arrest until Thursday and were prohibited from contacting other people involved in the case. Police also made an additional arrest on Sunday: a man in his 20s from Beit Shemesh was taken in for questioning on suspicion of participating in the riot.
Background
The unrest is linked to the expiry of the prior draft framework in June 2023, which had exempted many Haredi young men from conscription. The lapse left thousands in legal uncertainty and led to challenges before the High Court of Justice, which has instructed the government to develop a new framework.
Justice Sohlberg authored a pivotal High Court ruling in November 2025, calling on the state to promptly establish an effective enforcement policy against Haredi draft evasion. The ruling urged meaningful criminal enforcement alongside broader economic and civil measures and opened the door to petitions seeking to limit certain broad benefits tied to the exemptions.
Note: Police continue to monitor hot spots across Jerusalem amid concerns of further demonstrations and targeted harassment of officers in their homes.
Reporters Sarah Ben-Nun and Shoshana Baker contributed to this report.
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