Haredi Rioters Clash With IDF Guards at Prison 10 Over Draft Evader Detention

Thousands of Haredi demonstrators rallied outside the Neve Tzedek Military Prison 10 near Kfar Yona on Wednesday evening against the detention of ultra-Orthodox draft evaders, and by 22:51 IDT footage showed IDF soldiers tussling with rioters who had breached the prison perimeter. Convoys departed at 16:00 IDT from 19 cities including Jerusalem, Bnei Brak, Beitar Illit, Elad and Beit Shemesh, with organizers anticipating 10,000 to 15,000 participants; police blocked most vehicles from entering Kfar Yona and redirected drivers to nearby lots. Kfar Yona Mayor Albert Taieb demanded Prison 10 be relocated. The Rebbe of Gur, Rabbi Yaakov Aryeh Alter, attended the rally, and Housing Minister Yitzhak Goldknopf pledged the protest would continue. The IDF Spokesperson and Israel Police did not issue immediate statements.