About 150 haredi protesters tried to block a public bus at Meron Junction on Saturday as part of a campaign against buses that operate before Shabbat ends. Roughly 70 Derech Hofshit supporters intervened to keep traffic moving and police were deployed to the scene. Related incidents include a convoy of drivers protesting road closures near Safed and a separate Jerusalem incident in which a woman glued the Basimta Cafe door shut, delaying its opening by about 40 minutes.
Clashes at Meron Junction as Haredi Protesters Try to Block Bus Over Shabbat Services
Ultra-Orthodox Jews protest against the drafting of ultra-Orthodox Jews in Jerusalem, January 11, 2026; illustrative. (photo credit: CHAIM GOLDBERG/FLASH90)
About 150 haredi (ultra-Orthodox) protesters attempted on Saturday to block a public bus from passing through Meron Junction, part of a recurring campaign against public transport that runs before the end of Shabbat. The demonstration is one of several recent protests in northern Israel that have heightened tensions between ultra-Orthodox and secular communities.
What Happened
Protesters who have campaigned for weeks in Safed expanded their actions to Meron with the stated goal of preventing buses from leaving the city while Shabbat is still observed. Opposing the blockade, roughly 70 residents from the Galilee affiliated with the Derech Hofshit ("Free Road") movement gathered opposite the demonstrators and intervened to keep traffic moving. Police units also arrived at the junction to manage the situation.
Haredi Orthodox and secular protesters and counter protesters face off outside a Jerusalem cafe open on Shabbat, Aug. 9, 2026 (credit: Theia Chatelle)
Related Incidents
Last month, dozens of haredi protesters briefly blocked the main road near Safed's central bus station, disrupting traffic while shouting "Shabbos" at drivers; police later moved in to disperse the crowd. In response to repeated road closures, about ten vehicle owners staged a convoy through a local market square earlier the same day to protest the disruptions.
Jerusalem Tension: Basimta Cafe
The Meron demonstration came a day after an incident in Jerusalem in which, according to N12 News, a woman glued the entrance of the Basimta Cafe shut, delaying its opening by around 40 minutes. Security-camera footage released by N12 shows a woman in a white dress and face mask applying an adhesive to the café door before fleeing the scene. Basimta Cafe has been targeted repeatedly by haredi protesters for remaining open on Shabbat, making it a frequent flashpoint in this broader dispute over public life on the Sabbath.
Security Note: Authorities are investigating the glueing incident; no injuries were reported and the café eventually opened after the obstruction was removed.
Context
These incidents reflect an ongoing dispute in parts of Israel where secular and religious communities clash over the operation of public services on Shabbat. Protests and counter-protests have become more frequent, with local residents and activists on both sides mobilizing to defend their positions while police attempt to maintain public order and traffic flow.
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