Hundreds of extremist Haredim besiege security forces, prevent arrest of deserter

Military police forces operated in Modi'in to arrest an IDF deserter, and hundreds of yeshiva students and kollel members besieged the building, clashed with police, and tried to break into the apartment where the deserter was staying. After hours of pressure, police released the deserter in exchange for calm.

Last night (Monday to Tuesday), an unusual incident occurred in Modi'in: Military Police personnel raided an apartment in the city in an attempt to arrest an IDF deserter. The news spread quickly, and within a short time, hundreds of yeshiva students and kollel members flocked to the scene, trying to physically thwart the arrest. Large police forces were called in to reinforce the area and found themselves facing a crowd that filled the streets around the building. The protesters tried to enter the building and even the apartment where the deserter was staying, and for a long hour, tense confrontations and negotiations took place between the police and the protesters. After hours of tension and heavy pressure, the security forces decided to release the deserter in exchange for achieving calm and de-escalation in the area. Upon his release, the protesters broke into dancing and celebration in the streets. According to a report by our correspondent Yehuda Ahroni, this is an exceptionally unusual and severe incident.