Hundreds of Haredi activists were mobilized late Wednesday night to the Maccabim Crossing on Highway 443 after the extremist 'Black Alert' system — used to summon activists to prevent arrests of draft evaders — was activated, according to journalist Eli Hirshman. What began as a routine vehicle check rapidly escalated into violent confrontations, including damage to police property and scuffles with civilians.
Hundreds of Haredi activists converged on the Maccabim Crossing late Wednesday night after the extremist 'Black Alert' system was activated, with what began as a routine vehicle check escalating into violent confrontations that included damage to police property and scuffles with civilians, according to journalist Eli Hirshman. The mobilization and clashes, reported around 02:03 Jerusalem on Thursday, mark the latest flare-up at this crossing, which has become a recurring flashpoint in protests against military draft enforcement.
The incident follows a thread The Zioneer has tracked since the early hours of Thursday (02:03 Jerusalem), when a traffic ticket issued to a yeshiva student triggered a gathering at the same crossing. Initial reports described a crowd damaging a police vehicle and slashing its tires; later versions noted a police officer apologizing and protesters warning, 'You wanted to give a ticket — you'll get anarchy.' The thread saw escalating details across multiple updates, from a single-vehicle incident to police and IDF operating at the scene, and finally to the current version where the 'Black Alert' system and broader violent clashes are reported. Source quality evolved from unconfirmed reports to on-the-ground footage and named journalist attribution (Hirshman).
As The Zioneer reported earlier this week, protesters blocked the same Maccabim Crossing overnight over a traffic ticket, with a police officer apologizing and a protester threatening anarchy. The broader context includes a pattern of mass mobilizations through extremist alert systems: on Monday (Jun 15, 03:03 Jerusalem), activists blocked Highway 4 in Ashdod, forcing police to release a draft deserter; on Friday (Jun 12, 09:45 Jerusalem), hundreds of Haredim converged in Ashdod to prevent an arrest that later turned out to involve a non-Haredi individual. Protest organizers have publicly stated they will block roads if convoys are disrupted.
It remains unclear whether police have made any arrests in relation to the Wednesday night Maccabim clash, and police have not yet issued a statement regarding the confrontation or the damage to their property.
8 developments
- StrongHundreds of Haredim block police in Ashdod to prevent arrest of draft deserter — who is not Haredi
- DevelopingPolice declare Haredi protest illegal, move to disperse rioters
- StrongHaredim block Jerusalem road in protest over draft dodger arrest report
- DevelopingHaredi protests spread to multiple cities after draft dodger arrests
Source and signal
- Internal intake