Protests over the arrest of Yeshiva Bochurim intensified across Israel on Wednesday after the Eda Chareidis took the unusual step of ordering the closure of all its kollelim and calling on its members to join demonstrations nationwide.

In a statement issued by members of the Eida Chareidis Badatz, headed by HaGaon HaRav Moshe Sternbuch, participants were urged to wage a “war” against what they described as efforts by authorities to transfer Yeshiva students and avreichim to military custody.

“Following the authorities’ attempt to hand over dozens of bochurim and avreichim to military prison, every individual has an obligation to go out and protest with mesirus nefesh at the gates of prisons throughout the country in order to stop the destruction,” the statement said.

Following the directive, Eida Chareidis kollelim closed their doors and large numbers of avreichim joined demonstrations already underway in several cities, including Jerusalem.

The protests were initially organized by members of the Peleg Yerushalmi following reports that police intended to transfer 19 Yeshiva Bochurim arrested during last week’s demonstration outside the home of Supreme Court Deputy President Noam Sohlberg to military authorities.

According to organizers, demonstrations were held simultaneously at four major locations: near Nitzan Prison in Ramle, the Russian Compound in Jerusalem, near Hadarim Prison along Route 4 between Ra’anana and Netanya, and in the Abu Kabir area serving the Bnei Brak and central Israel region.

In Jerusalem, clashes broke out between protesters and police. Authorities used crowd-control measures, including stun grenades and mounted police units, to disperse demonstrators and reopen blocked roads.

Police said protesters attacked officers, threw objects, and refused repeated orders to disperse. Law enforcement officials stated that Border Police, riot-control units, and other specialized forces were deployed to restore order and keep major traffic arteries open.

The demonstrations come one week after a separate protest outside Justice Solberg’s home, during which dozens of demonstrators allegedly damaged property, shattered windows, and vandalized the entrance to the residence. More than 70 people were arrested during that incident.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)