Large Haredi vehicle convoys are expected to depart from 19 cities across Israel starting at 16:00, heading to Prison 10 near Beit Lid to protest the arrest of yeshiva students classified as draft deserters. Organizers say roughly 2,000 vehicles have registered, though police anticipate a smaller convoy of 600–800 cars. Heavy traffic disruptions are expected on Routes 1, 2, 4, and 6.
Large Haredi vehicle convoys are set to depart from 19 cities across Israel starting Wednesday at 16:00, heading toward Prison 10 near Beit Lid/Kfar Yona in protest of the arrest of yeshiva students classified as draft deserters. Organizers report roughly 2,000 vehicles registered; police estimate a smaller force of 600–800 cars and are deploying some 200 officers in the Sharon area. Vehicles will be directed to a parking area outside Kfar Yona and will not be allowed near the prison itself. Heavy traffic disruptions are expected on Routes 1, 2, 4, and 6, with MDA positioning ambulances and intensive-care units near anticipated congestion zones.
The planned action follows a week of steadily escalating protest coordination reported by The Zioneer. At 21:32 on Tuesday, organizers issued a call for a mass procession from 19 cities—from Safed to Arad—toward Prison 10 (version 2). Minutes later, the same published_at time, commentator Shalom Yerushalmi identified the hardline Jerusalem Faction as planning a slow-car convoy traveling at 20–30 km/h with loudspeakers (version 3). Subsequent updates at the same timestamp refined the scale: an activist source warned of major disruptions (version 4), the Gur Hasidic sect was named as an organizer with departures from Beitar Illit, Bnei Brak, and El'ad (version 5), and reports converged on a convoy of over 2,000 vehicles traveling at a steady 50 km/h (versions 6–7). By 21:32 the thread had consolidated to a plan across 19 cities starting at 16:00 Wednesday (versions 8–9). Early Wednesday, The Zioneer reported the departure points and police deployment plans.
As The Zioneer reported on Tuesday at 22:26, activist Chaim Cohen advised residents to avoid unnecessary travel due to a slow-protest convoy of between 1,000 and 2,500 vehicles expected to move at 50 km/h. The protest is part of a broader campaign that has included blocking major highways and halting trains across central Israel (Thu Jun 11, 19:28), demonstrations at the Beit Lid military base (Wed Jun 17, 17:35), and a confrontation in Ashdod in which activists forced police to release a draft deserter (Mon Jun 15, 03:03). Kfar Yona Mayor Daniel Grobeis has organized a counter-protest involving a human chain to block the convoy's entry (Mon Jun 22, 13:24).
The actual number of vehicles participating and the extent of traffic disruption remain to be seen, as police estimates differ from organizers' claims. It is also not yet clear whether the Kfar Yona human chain will be deployed, or if authorities will attempt to prevent the convoy from reaching the area at all.
10 developments
- StrongDrivers lose patience, attack Haredi protesters on Highway 4
- StrongHaredi protest organizers say they will block roads if convoys are disrupted
- StrongHaredi protesters block highways, halt trains across central Israel
- DevelopingHaredi activists block Highway 4 in Ashdod, force police to release draft deserter
Source and signal
- Internal intake