Large crowds of Chareidi demonstrators gathered Wednesday outside military draft offices in Tel Hashomer and Yerushalayim, protesting the enlistment of bnei yeshiva as tensions over the draft crisis continued to escalate. Senior rabbanim, roshei yeshiva, and community leaders were among those who joined the demonstrations.

The protests, held on Rosh Chodesh Av as a new round of military draft activity got underway, drew thousands of participants and became some of the largest anti-draft demonstrations seen in recent weeks.

The largest and most energetic gathering took place outside the IDF induction center at Tel Hashomer, where masses of protesters assembled to voice their opposition to the enlistment of yeshiva bochurim.

At the center of the demonstration, organizers positioned a large truck that served as an elevated platform for prominent rabbanim and roshei yeshiva, who addressed the crowd with speeches of encouragement and protest.

With temperatures soaring under the summer sun, several philanthropists financed the distribution of dozens of umbrellas to help shield demonstrators from the intense heat. The scene was striking, as hundreds of protesters stood beneath the umbrellas while police officers and security personnel remained exposed to the blazing sun as they monitored the demonstration.

Among those seen participating was the longtime mashamesh ba’kodesh of the Vasloi Rebbe, who joined the protest alongside numerous rabbanim, roshei yeshiva, and other respected community figures.

At the same time, a separate demonstration took place outside the military draft office in Yerushalayim, organized by members of the Eidah HaChareidis and other Chareidi communities.

Although the Yerushalayim protest was smaller and quieter than the demonstration at Tel Hashomer, participants there also voiced strong opposition to the military draft and what they described as the ongoing decrees against the Torah world.

Israel Police deployed large numbers of officers to both locations in an effort to maintain order throughout the day.

According to police, confrontations broke out after demonstrators intermittently blocked roads leading to the draft offices. Authorities described the incidents as unlawful disturbances, and several tense exchanges occurred between protesters and police as officers worked to reopen the roads and restore traffic flow.

{Matzav.com}