Hundreds of protesters associated with the radical Jerusalem Faction demonstrated in a Tel Aviv suburb on Monday over the recent arrest of a yeshiva student who failed to show up at a military draft office.
Protesters were calling "We'd rather die than be recruited" and waving signs decrying a "religion-persecuting nation" attempted to block central streets in the area, causing heavy traffic congestion on Jabotinsky Road, which is a main route crossing Tel Aviv metropolitan region.
Police were deployed at the scene in large numbers to handle the demonstration. Clashes were reported between officers and protesters and at nearly 30 people were arrested.
Officials said they were attempting to prevent protesters from blocking the major Route 4 highway located nearby, as has occurred during previous demonstrations.
The Jerusalem Faction is a radical Orthodox group formerly headed by the late Rabbi Shmuel Auerbach.
Police said they "will not prevent the protest from taking place, out of a true desire to allow freedom of expression and protest of every citizen... even so, we will not allow a disturbance of the peace and will act with determination against any incidence of violence."
A similar protest was held in Jerusalem on Thursday, when 46 people were arrested and a police officer was injured as hundreds blocked an intersection close to the entrance to the capital.
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