Haredi anti-draft protesters block Highway 4 in both directions near Yavne Interchange

Haredi ultra-Orthodox protesters from the extremist Jerusalem Faction group halted traffic on Highway 4 in both directions near the Yavne Interchange on Sunday morning, according to the Israel Police. The demonstration began earlier than its publicly announced 4:00 p.m. start time, with an estimated 40 to 50 protesters in attendance.

Police forces from the Bnei Brak and Ramat Gan stations, along with the Dan District, are currently on the scene. Authorities have advised motorists to avoid the area and use alternative routes, urging them to use navigation apps for real-time traffic updates. Police have instructed drivers to follow their guidance. Later, police stated they were working to clear the road of the illegal demonstration.

In recent months, the Israeli security forces have intensified arrests of haredi draft evaders, or ultra-Orthodox men who refuse mandatory IDF service due to religious observance and lack official service exemptions. In response to these arrests, haredi groups have organized numerous protests in Jerusalem and central Israel, making the haredi IDF draft a key topic in the 2026 Knesset election campaigns.