Haredi protest convoy drivers block exit to Jerusalem, clash with motorist near Ashdod

By Sam Sokol 24 June 2026, 5:24 pm

1 Edit

Sam Sokol is a former political correspondent at The Times of Israel. He was previously a reporter for the Jerusalem Post, Jewish Telegraphic Agency and Haaretz. He is the author of "Putin’s Hybrid War and the Jews"

The highways leading out of Jerusalem are currently blocked due to the high volume of traffic from the ultra-Orthodox convoy leaving the city to attend a massive anti-conscription rally at the Neve Tzedek (Beit Lid) military prison in Kfar Yona, according to the ultra-Orthodox news outlet HaPargod.

Residents of Kfar Yona have pledged to keep protesters out, and videos from the scene shared by the outlet on X show people gathering at the entrance of their neighborhood with Israeli flags, while police also gather in the area in apparent anticipation of possible clashes.

הפרגוד: צומת כפר יונה התושבים מתארגנים לחסימת הרכבים שיבואו.

קרדיט: חיליק. pic.twitter.com/FqMFnlgyIR

— הפרגוד (@moshepargod) June 24, 2026

Footage from the road has shown several incidents of motorists yelling at the protesters. Organizers of the protest shared images of the smashed window of a participant’s car near Ashdod, claiming in a press release that “an incited and violent individual blocked and damaged a vehicle participating in a car convoy on Route 7, smashed the vehicle’s window, and even threatened to harm the passengers.”

“The individual attempted to assault the driver, who quickly rolled up the window, causing it to shatter as a result,” organizers said, adding that there was footage of the incident that would be handed over to the police.