Riots in Bat Yam: Haredi protesters disrupt military police arrest of deserter

Military police arrived in Bat Yam to arrest a deserter. Urgent calls on Haredi networks caused protesters to flock to the scene, disrupt the arrest, and prevent it. The forces left and the protesters danced. The incident joins similar riots in Modi'in this week.

Military police arrived early Thursday morning in Bat Yam to arrest a deserter. Urgent calls spread on Haredi networks, including "Black Alert" and "The kidnappers have arrived," causing protesters to flock to the scene. The protesters managed to disrupt and prevent the arrest, and the military police left the area. The protesters broke into dancing. The incident joins similar riots that occurred in Modi'in last Tuesday, where hundreds of black-clad protesters blocked military police trying to arrest a deserter. In that incident, the deserter, who was already handcuffed, was released after civilian police recommended releasing him to calm tensions. Today, massive protests are expected in Jerusalem and Gush Dan following arrests of yeshiva students by the military, according to the Jerusalem faction.