When the Ultra-Orthodox in Jerusalem take to the streets, they do not stage a symbolic protest; they create a full disruption of the city. Sitting on the asphalt, blocking major junctions, halting the light rail — their collective action paralyzes urban life and forces the state to respond.
This protest, unfolding against the draft law and the government’s intent to conscript them into the army and jail draft evaders, is more than a demonstration. It is a display of solidarity and discipline, rooted in community identity. Their strength lies not only in numbers but in their ability to act as one body, with determination that shakes the political establishment.
Thursday evening in Jerusalem: paralyzing key arteries
On Thursday evening, hundreds of demonstrators blocked the city’s entrance at the Chords Bridge, shut down lanes on Begin Highway, and stopped the light rail at Kiryat Moshe. Traffic came to a standstill, drivers were diverted to alternative routes, and passengers were stranded mid-journey. Eyewitnesses described lines of vehicles retreating backwards, as police struggled to reopen the arteries of the capital.
Clashes broke out between protesters and police. Officers declared the gatherings illegal, issued dispersal orders, and pushed demonstrators back onto sidewalks. Yet the images that remained — lines of young men seated on the road before trucks and buses — conveyed a message stronger than any speech: collective resilience can override official instructions.
Police response versus community force
The police reiterated their commitment to protect freedom of expression, but warned they would not tolerate roadblocks, damage to infrastructure, or risks to public safety. This tension between civil order and organized protest is not new to Jerusalem, but the Ultra-Orthodox repeatedly prove that their disruption is also their leverage.
Against this backdrop, another idea emerges: what if the Ultra-Orthodox in Jerusalem, already demonstrating remarkable resolve and solidarity, were to join the struggle of the hostage families? Such an alliance could multiply pressure on decision-makers and transform the protest map of Israel.
