Full Breakdown
Violent Protest at Deputy Supreme Court President Noam Sohlberg’s Home
6/6/2026, 1:10:47 AM
Background: Draft Exemption and Judicial Rulings
The Supreme Court’s 2024 ruling ended the long-standing exemption that allowed Haredi men engaged in full-time Torah study to avoid compulsory military service. Justice Sohlberg authored a November 2025 decision urging the state to implement an enforcement framework without delay. Despite the ruling, many Haredi men remain exempt, and the coalition government is pursuing legislation to reinstate a draft exemption.
Key Actors and Their Positions
- Noam Sohlberg – Deputy President of the Supreme Court, target of the protest.
- Meira Sohlberg – His wife, who described the attack as “a pogrom” and “Kristallnacht.”
- Esther Hayut – Former Supreme Court president, warned Israel was “sliding toward the brink of anarchy.”
- Isaac Amit – Current Supreme Court president, labeled the riot an attack on the entire judicial system.
- Yariv Levin – Justice Minister, heads the Judicial Selection Committee, has delayed convening it since January 2025.
- Benjamin Netanyahu – Prime Minister, condemned the violence and called for full law-enforcement action.
- Isaac Herzog – President, called the incident a “dangerous crossing of a red line.”
- Aharon Barak – Former chief justice, warned of a slippery slope toward possible murder of judges and civil war.
- Dorit Beinisch – Former chief justice, linked the violence to the government’s refusal to obey High Court rulings.
Timeline of Recent Escalations
- April 2025 – Jerusalem Faction breaks into the home of the Military Police chief.
- Early June 2026 – Haredi protesters breach a police station compound in Beit Shemesh.
- June 3, 2026 – Riot at Sohlberg’s home.
- June 4, 2026 – Supreme Court issues a statement condemning the attack.
Data on Arrests and Judicial Vacancies
- Police reported 62 arrests at the Sohlberg site; 18 were released to house arrest, 44 remained detained.
- The Justice Ministry later listed 18 candidates for Haifa and Beersheba district courts, while 51 judicial vacancies exist nationwide, projected to rise to 67 by year-end.
Impact on Rule of Law and Democratic Institutions
The incident has intensified concerns among judges about personal safety and the ability to adjudicate without intimidation. Former chief justice Barak warned that erosion of compliance with High Court rulings could foster lawlessness and threaten democratic cohesion.
Official Statements & Responses
President Herzog urged an end to violence, emphasizing the need for societal restraint. Prime Minister Netanyahu pledged aggressive law-enforcement action. Justice Minister Levin announced a partial candidate list for district courts but maintained the need for “broad consensus.” Police Commissioner Daniel Levi reiterated that protest must not become violent.
Criticism and Opposition
Former chief justice Aharon Barak warned of a “slippery slope” toward potential murder of judges and civil war if reforms continue unchecked. Opposition leader Yair Lapid and former prime minister Naftali Bennett criticized the government for tolerating extremist actions and failing to protect judicial independence.
On-the-Ground Reports
Witnesses described smashed windows, broken flowerpots, and a car with a shattered windshield. Police noted that a patrol unit withdrew from the scene due to the crowd’s size. A civilian reported being kicked in the head during a related protest at a Jerusalem police station.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the exact number of detainees: police statements cite 62 arrests, while other reports mention 65 detained for questioning and “over 60” arrests. Details on the identity of the arrested individuals and the status of pending judicial appointments remain incomplete.
Verbatim Quotes
- “We are children of Holocaust survivors; how can Jews hurt one another?” — Meira Sohlberg, wife of Deputy Supreme Court President Noam Sohlberg.
- “The severe acts of violence directed at the Deputy President and the Deputy President’s family are, in fact, an attack on the entire judicial system and on the rule of law in the State of Israel.” — Isaac Amit, Supreme Court President.
- “We should not be surprised [by such events], when a government minister can announce that a ruling of the High Court of Justice is illegal and that he will not comply with it,” — Dorit Beinisch, former Supreme Court President.
- “The right to protest must not turn into acts of violence, causing damage, or harming public officials.” — Daniel Levi, Police Commissioner.
- “I strongly condemn the violent riot against Justice Noam Sohlberg. Law enforcement must apply the full force of the law against the rioters,” — Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister.
What’s Next
The coalition’s draft-exemption legislation is slated for parliamentary debate ahead of the upcoming national elections. Justice Minister Levin’s pending convening of the Judicial Selection Committee will determine the pace of filling the growing judicial vacancies, while security forces continue investigations into the organized nature of the recent protests.
