Hundreds of Chareidim demonstrated near Tzfas’ central bus station on Shabbos for the fifth consecutive week, protesting the operation of bus routes before Shabbos had ended. Protesters blocked the city’s main road in an attempt to prevent buses bound for Haifa, Kiryat Shmona, and Nahariya from departing before the conclusion of Shabbos.

The demonstrators clashed with police who moved in to clear the roadway and disperse the crowd, while dozens of secular residents staged a counter-protest, objecting to the road closures and the disruption to traffic.

The protests reflect broader tensions over the character of Tzfas, where the Chareidi community now accounts for approximately 54% of the city’s population, compared with about 46% from the general population. Some residents from the general population say the city’s shared public character has gradually been eroded.

The events in Tzfas come as similar disputes over public Shabbos observance have taken place elsewhere in Israel, including recent demonstrations outside a cafe in Jerusalem’s Machane Yehuda market.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)