Jerusalem police disperse Haredi protesters blocking traffic

Jerusalem police have dispersed a group of ultra-Orthodox protesters who blocked traffic at a checkpoint south of the city, law enforcement says.

They were protesting the arrest of an additional suspect in Wednesday’s anti-draft riots outside the home of Supreme Court Justice Noam Sohlberg.

The 26-year-old detainee was nabbed this morning on suspicion of participating in the riots while driving near Beitar Illit in the West Bank.

Soon after his arrest, dozens of Haredim burst onto the road and brought traffic to a standstill at the Tunnels Checkpoint, not far from where the young man was detained.

Police say the participants blocked vehicles, hauled rocks onto the street to place in front of buses, and lit fires on the pavement.

Officers have managed to clear the road. No arrests are reported.