A demonstration broke out on Route 443 at the Ofer Checkpoint north of Jerusalem on Friday afternoon after the arrest of a haredi man was reported as an attempt to turn a draft-evading yeshiva student into the Military Police.
However, according to the police, the man was arrested after he was caught driving a stolen vehicle, and only later was it found that he was also evading conscription.
The "Black Alert" system, which mobilizes protesters when draft evaders are arrested, reported an attempt to turn a yeshiva student over to the IDF and called on the haredi public to arrive at the scene to demonstrate. Several haredim heeded the call and began demonstrating at the checkpoint.
According to a statement by the police, Jerusalem Envelope Border Police and IDF checkpoint soldiers stopped a Jerusalem-bound vehicle for inspection at the Ofer Checkpoint on Route 443 and found that it was stolen.
The driver, a resident of Ashdod in his 20s, was arrested at the scene. The police noted that only upon further inspection after the arrest did they learn that the man was evading conscription.
Shortly after the arrest, dozens of people arrived at the checkpoint and began blocking Route 443. Border Police and Judea and Samaria District Police worked to restore order and open the road for traffic.
The Modi'in Ilit Police Station launched an investigation into the circumstances of the vehicle's theft.