Hundreds of Haredi rioters try to break into Jerusalem police station, attack officers in Beit Shemesh

Hundreds of ultra-Orthodox men are rioting in Jerusalem and Beit Shemesh in a protest against the arrest of draft dodgers, days after a group of Haredi men carried out a violent attack on the home of deputy chief justice Noam Sohlberg.

Police say rioters tried to approach the police station in Jerusalem’s Russian Compound, but were repelled by police.

Law enforcement is still working to disperse the crowd using force, the statement says.

According to the Ynet news site, the crowd tried to break down the gate at the police station and is also protesting the detention of those arrested over the riot at Sohlberg’s home.

Additionally, police say rioters are throwing stones and other objects at officers in Beit Shemesh, who in turn are using force and means to disperse them.

While there have been multiple Haredi protests and riots on the issue of the military draft, it is rare for such action to take place on a Friday night, the Jewish Sabbath.

בירושלים ובבית שמש: עימותים בין שוטרים למאות חרדים שיצאו להפגין על מעצר עריקים | תיעוד@yollancohen pic.twitter.com/bSscywqvQP

— החדשות – N12 (@N12News) June 5, 2026

Dozens of Haredim protesting against the military draft gathered at Sohlberg’s home in the Alon Shvut settlement Wednesday evening and shattered windows, broke flowerpots by the front door of the house, smashed the windshield of a car in the garage and displayed a small Israeli flag with a swastika in place of the Star of David. Police arrested 62 people in connection with the incident.

The violence at Sohlberg’s house came days after a group of Haredi protesters broke into a police station compound in Beit Shemesh, rioting and clashing with officers, and after members of the radical Jerusalem Faction in April broke into the home of the Military Police chief while his family was inside.