A small group of left-wing activists arrived in Bnei Brak on Friday afternoon in an attempt to disrupt traffic just hours before Shabbos, following days of threats to “disrupt the lives” of the city’s residents in retaliation for this week’s Chareidi vehicle protests.

The demonstration took place on Rechov Kahaneman, where members of the “Mothers on the Front” protest movement attempted to block traffic. Despite organizers’ promises of a major demonstration, only a relatively small number of protesters showed up.

The protest quickly sparked confrontations with local residents, many of whom were making their final preparations for Shabbos. Witnesses reported shouting matches and pushing between the two sides as residents objected to efforts to block one of the city’s main thoroughfares at one of the busiest times of the week.

The protest was organized after “Mothers on the Front” leader Ayelet Hashachar Seidof vowed earlier this week to target Bnei Brak in response to Chareidi demonstrations against the arrest of yeshiva bochurim. “Road blockages will be answered with road blockages,” she declared, saying the goal was to “disrupt the lives” of Bnei Brak residents.

During Friday’s demonstration, some residents were heard chanting, “We will die and not be drafted,” while police maintained a buffer between protesters and local residents. According to reports from the scene, one female protester removed her shirt during the confrontation.

After approximately two hours, the demonstrators dispersed and left the area.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)