Anarchy: Orthodox Jews wrest three more draft dodgers from police

On the night of Thursday, October 8, in Bat Yam and Dimona, dozens of ultra-Orthodox Jews thwarted the arrest of three IDF draft dodgers, using a well-rehearsed scheme with alert systems. The military police left without detainees amid joyful dances by protesters. A similar incident occurred earlier in Modiin, where residents mistook protesters for terrorists and reported that a policewoman was beaten with a flowerpot.

On the night of Thursday, October 8, attempts by military police to arrest three ultra-Orthodox Jews evading IDF conscription in Bat Yam and Dimona failed due to organized community resistance. In both cases, alert systems were activated: in Bat Yam, 'The Kidnappers Have Arrived,' and in Dimona, 'Black Color.' Dozens of protesters arrived at the homes of the evaders and forcibly prevented the arrests. The military left without detainees, and protesters celebrated with dancing. This is the third such failed operation in a week. Earlier, on the night of Tuesday, October 6, in Modiin, hundreds of radicals thwarted an arrest by storming a building and causing chaos. Residents were terrified, mistaking the protesters for terrorists. One resident said they hid their children in a safe room and her husband grabbed a gun. According to residents, protesters beat a policewoman with a flowerpot, inflicting a bleeding wound. Police, they said, arrived an hour late. This week, IDF sources blamed the police for the failures, saying they should accompany the military. A police source responded that they arrived as reinforcement, as agreed. Meanwhile, the radical faction 'Jerusalem Wing' ('Peleg Yerushalmi') threatens to block roads in Jerusalem and Gush Dan during rush hour on Thursday, October 8, in protest of the arrests of two ultra-Orthodox Jews.