Thousands of Gur Hasidim, led by the Gur Rebbe, gathered this evening (Wednesday) in front of Prison 10 in protest of the imprisonment of a Hasidic deserter who came to the recruitment office to regularize his status.
The Rebbe of Gur stood on a central stage at the demonstration complex.
After about an hour, during which they prayed mincha, recited chapters of Psalms, and gave speeches by yeshiva heads and rabbis, the rally ended.
The organizers of the rally emphasized that this was a protest and prayer rally, with no intention of confrontation or disruption of order. According to the organizers, the demonstration was fully coordinated between the police, the army, and Gur Hasidic activists.
According to a report by Itai Blumenthal from Kan News, the IDF deployed combat forces from the military police, and requested urgent assistance from the Border Guard and the Blue Police, for fear of the protesters breaking into the Neve Tzedek military base, which houses Prison 10 and the military courtrooms.
At the same time, the IDF placed a company of fighters from a nearby base on alert in case additional forces were needed.
Photo: Tal Gal/Flash90
The police provided a traffic update as of 4:50 p.m.: Highway 57 eastbound - Beit Lid intersection, and Kfar Yona intersection westbound, are blocked to vehicle traffic following a protest. "The driving public is asked to prepare and not come to the scene, choose alternative routes and obey police instructions.".
This morning, activists from the Jerusalem branch of the "Herzpnik" blocked Highway 4 near Bnei Brak. Clashes took place with police officers, who used shocking violence against the protesters. 8 protesters were injured and some were taken to the hospital.
Five protesters were arrested.
