🇮🇱 Hundreds of ultra-Orthodox protesters blocked Highway 4 near Bnei Brak over the arrest of a yeshiva student accused of draft evasion, and police used stun grenades to disperse them. The Jerusalem Faction protest at Geha Junction, called by Rabbi Tzvi Friedman, followed the arrest of Alon Samadja, a yeshiva student detained by military police at his Jerusalem home last week. Police declared the protest illegal and fired stun grenades about an hour in; at least two protesters were treated for injuries, and police said three officers were wounded by protesters, one hit by a stone. Highway 4 was closed in both directions between the Aluf Sadeh and Em HaMoshavot interchanges, and the protest spread to the light rail tracks in Petah Tikva. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir criticized Police Commissioner Daniel Levy over the handling. Similar clashes took place on Highway 4 in June and August, so this is not unprecedented; a June protest left eight injured and five arrested. I could not confirm reports of a journalist's arrest or the number of injured protesters taken by ambulance, and I did not find a statement from UTJ chairman Yaakov Asher criticizing police conduct. Sources: Israel Police, Jerusalem Post, JFeed, Times of Israel, ynet
— 🔥🗞The Informant (@theinformant_x) October 29, 2026
