A yungerman who was handed over to the military police last night is expected to appear Sunday before a military judge, who will decide his sentence and determine how many additional days he will remain behind bars in a military prison.

The arrest has sparked preparations for renewed protests by the Peleg Yerushalmi faction, as tensions continue to rise.

The detainee, Reb Avraham Ben Dayan, a talmid of the Maor HaTalmud yeshiva who was married only about two months ago, is scheduled to be brought before the military court today. The judge will rule on the length of his continued incarceration following his transfer to military custody.

According to the report, Ben Dayan had been spending Shabbos in the southern city of Ofakim when he was stopped by a traffic officer in the community of Yifrach on suspicion of a traffic violation. During the stop, the officer discovered that Ben Dayan had not reported to the enlistment office and was therefore classified as a deserter. He was taken to a police station and later transferred to the military police.

In response to the arrest, activists affiliated with the Peleg Yerushalmi said they are preparing to resume protests across the country, describing the detention as an attack on Torah study. “Ben Dayan was arrested for the crime of studying Torah, and we will take to the streets throughout the country. We will not remain silent while Torah scholars are arrested,” a source in the faction said.

Following the arrest, hundreds of demonstrators gathered near the Ofakim police station, blocking the entrance to the facility as well as Route 241 at the city’s entrance. Police were called in to disperse the crowd and restore order.

During the disturbances, police arrested three protesters and used crowd-control measures, including stun grenades, authorities said.

In a statement issued overnight, police said: “Officers from the Southern District operated at the entrance to the city of Ofakim on Route 241 to restore public order, after disorderly individuals arrived at the scene, blocked traffic routes, acted violently, and disrupted normal life in the area. Police forces arrested three individuals involved in the disturbances.

“The Israel Police emphasize that violent riots by lawbreakers and the blocking of traffic routes are criminal offenses, endanger human life, and could end in a serious disaster.”

As Ben Dayan awaits the military court’s decision, further demonstrations are expected, with the situation likely to remain volatile in the coming days.

{Matzav.com}