Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) demonstrators are planning to block Highway 4 and Jabotinsky Street in Bnei Brak on Wednesday in protest against the detention of a draft dodger, the Israel Police said.
Police noted that the protests are set to begin at 4:00 p.m. and advised drivers to avoid the area.
According to Ynet, the suspect was initially summoned by Lahav 433 for questioning, whereupon he was transferred to the military police once it became apparent that he was a draft dodger.
Shas MK Moshe Abutbul claimed that the man had approached police to "assist" in an ongoing fraud investigation, having contacted Police Commissioner Insp.-Gen. Danny Levi regarding the incident.
"This is a crossing of a red line and a serious violation of the commissioner's commitment to the Haredi public," said Abutbul. "This is not how you build trust. This is how you destroy it."
Abutbul described the man as a "yeshiva guy," with police disputing the MK's version of events, noting that the suspect would not have been transferred to the military police if he was simply someone coming to give testimony, Ynet reported.
"The suspect was summoned for questioning with a warning at Lahav 433 for serious criminal offenses," police said in a statement. "Upon learning that the suspect was wanted by the military police, a report was submitted as is customary and required."
"Any other publication is incorrect and intended to reinforce a biased and false narrative," police added.
Abutbul to Ben-Gvir: Police must refine complaint process for haredim
In a letter to National Security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, Abutbul demanded that the procedures for haredim to file complaints with the police be refined in order to avoid such situations.
"Their (police) procedures need to be refined immediately and clearly to allow haredim to file complaints at police stations without being arrested," wrote Abutbul. "Continuing such conduct could seriously damage public trust in the police, and cause citizens to avoid contacting them when necessary, which could cost lives."
The protest comes as the latest demonstration against attempts to draft haredim into the IDF and the arrests of those who refuse their draft orders, with the issue central to the coming elections in October.