Haredi anti-draft protesters to deliberately block traffic today if convoys ‘disrupted’ – report

Leaders of the Haredi protest against the draft have threatened to stop all the vehicles traveling in mass convoys to a demonstration later today, and deliberately block the traffic if there “any disruption” en route, the Kan public broadcaster reports.

“If there is any disruption to even one of the convoys, we will all get out of the vehicles and block all the roads at the same time,” the officials warn.

Traffic chaos is expected as Haredi protesters heading for the anti-conscription protest at a military prison are set to leave 19 locations nationwide in large convoys at 4 p.m.

According to organizers, “masses of vehicles will depart in organized convoys” from cities, including Ashdod, Beit Shemesh, Bnei Brak, Jerusalem, Arad and Safed.

The convoys will pass along major highways including routes 1 and 4, and are expected to snarl traffic until at least 8 p.m.

The vehicles will converge at a massive anti-conscription demonstration outside the Neve Tzedek (Beit Lid) military prison in Kfar Yona, where a number of draft evaders are incarcerated. Local leaders have pledged to block the protest.