Route 1 reopens to traffic after being temporarily blocked by dairy farmers

Route 1, the central artery between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, has reopened after being briefly blocked by a convoy of dairy farmers heading to Jerusalem to protest a reform to their industry being spearheaded by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, Hebrew media reports.

A social media post from an account representing the protesters posts photos showing them driving down the highway, with one person pouring milk out of the back of a truck.

A banner hanging from more than one truck reads, “Drink blue and white [Israeli] milk, not Erdogan’s!”

The mention of Recep Tayyip Erdogan refers to the reform’s aim to ease the import of dairy products to Israel.

היום הרפתנים עולים לכנסת וזועקים:
❌לא לחיסול החלב הישראלי
❌לא לסגירת 400 רפתות
❌לא לייבוא מטורקיה של ארדואן
❌לא להפקרת אדמות מולדת pic.twitter.com/uM3HIYtWs0

— מאבק הרפתנים (@raftanimil) February 4, 2026

Smotrich is intent on breaking the centralized planning that has characterized the country’s dairy industry since the beginning of the state.

He wants to slash milk production by 30 percent, lower by 15% the price per liter that processing companies pay to dairy farmers, and scrap tariffs to allow more imports.

Dairy farmers say the reform will hobble their industry and harm its employees.

Sue Surkes contributed to this report.