Ultra-Orthodox Protest Halts Highway 4 Near Bnei Brak

On July 16, 2026, police closed Highway 4 in both directions at 4 p.m. after several hundred ultra-Orthodox demonstrators sat and lay across the roadway near the Geha Interchange, between the Aluf Sadeh and Em Hamoshavot interchanges. The blockade stopped cars, buses and trucks, prompting officials to advise motorists to use alternative routes. Police and Border Police officers attempted to disperse the crowd, but protesters remained despite orders to move.

i24NEWS

The protest was organized in response to the recent arrest of young men who refused to report for mandatory military service. The arrests have intensified long-standing tensions between Israel’s defense establishment and segments of the ultra-Orthodox community, which traditionally receive exemptions from conscription. Demonstrators marched along Jabotinsky Street toward Petah Tikva before occupying the highway, turning a routine rush-hour corridor into a flashpoint for civil unrest.

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Police declared the demonstration illegal and deployed additional officers to maintain order and redirect traffic. Authorities emphasized that while the right to protest is protected, “authorities would not tolerate disturbances to public order or actions that unlawfully restrict freedom of movement.” The police also warned that the closure occurred during one of the week’s busiest travel periods, leading to significant congestion on surrounding routes.

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Some motorists expressed frustration, and clashes erupted between protesters and stranded drivers. Critics argue that the protest endangers public safety and undermines the rule of law, especially given the strategic importance of Highway 4 for regional traffic flow.

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• “They can tear down signs, but they will not succeed in silencing us.” — Hoffman Agiv

The Jerusalem Post

• “The battle for public space is not a 'recommendation,' it is the struggle for the face of Israel.” — Hoffman Agiv

The Jerusalem Post

• “a fundamental principle in a democratic state,” — Israel Police spokesperson

i24NEWS

• “Police urged motorists to avoid the area, emphasizing that while the right to protest is "a fundamental principle in a democratic state," authorities would not tolerate disturbances to public order or actions that unlawfully restrict freedom of movement.” — Israel Police spokesperson

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