Dozens of Haredi men block highway at checkpoint after police arrest draft-dodger

Dozens of ultra-Orthodox men block Route 433 at the Ofer Crossing in the West Bank, protesting the arrest of a Haredi man earlier this morning for evading mandatory military service.

The suspect is identified as a man in his 20s from Ashdod.

Border Police officers at the West Bank checkpoint discovered the draft-dodger’s status after he was found to be driving a stolen vehicle, the police say in a statement.

The demonstrators arrived “a short while later,” according to police, who say they are working ” to restore order at the scene and open the route for traffic.”

The alleged draft-dodger has not been transferred to the custody of the military police, according to the Kan public broadcaster.

חרדים חוסמים את כביש 443 במעבר עופר במחאה על מעצר עריק – שנתפס כשהוא נוהג ברכב גנוב@daniel_grovais @VeredPelman @HGoldich pic.twitter.com/hb0rDBlBFN

— כאן חדשות (@kann_news) August 28, 2026