Dozens of ultra-Orthodox Jews block key road near Tel Aviv to protest arrest of draft evader

By Zein Khalil and Rania Abu Shamala

JERUSALEM/ ISTANBUL (AA) - Dozens of ultra-Orthodox Jews blocked a major road near Tel Aviv on Monday evening to protest the arrest of a draft evader from their community, according to Israeli media.

Channel 12 reported that Haredi protesters blocked Highway 4, a vital roadway in the Gush Dan of Tel Aviv area.

It said the protest was triggered by the arrest of a draft evader, who had managed to escape from the military police with the help of protesters who arrived at the scene and overturned a police vehicle.

Military service in Israel is compulsory for all men and women aged 18.

Haredi, who make up about 13% of Israel’s population of 10 million, claim military service threatens their religious identity and community structure, as they dedicate their lives to Torah study. Prominent rabbis have urged followers to reject the draft and “tear up enlistment orders.”

For decades, most ultra-Orthodox men avoided service through repeated deferments for religious study until reaching the exemption age, currently set at 26.