Yerushalmi Faction
Yerushalmi FactionYaniv Nadav, Flash 90

The extremist Yerushalmi Faction (Jerusalem Faction) will block major thoroughfares all over Israel after the IDF extended the prison sentence of a student arrested for draft dodging.

The disturbances are expected to begin at 16:30 in Bnei Brak and spread to other haredi areas across Israel. "The Torah public is called upon to come today to protest the Torah's honor in the city of Bnei Brak at 16:30 as per the instruction of our rabbis to intensify the struggle after they (the IDF) extended the punishment," read a Jerusalem Faction bulletin.

'Every one of must take part of this protest- we will continue the path of Torah without compromises and concessions," concluded the notice. As Thursday commonly sees heavy traffic in Israel due to the large numbers of IDF soldiers getting off on weekend leave, the disturbances are expected to cause major gridlock.

The protest comes after an IDF court extended the jail sentence of Meir Bordiansky, who was arrested in early March after he failed to appear at an IDF draft board office. An IDF court originally gave him 20 days in prison but extended the sentence to 45 days on Wednesday after IDF prosecutors appealed what they said was the light sentence.

The Yerushalmi Faction has orchestrated a series of protests and road-blocking demonstrations nationwide in recent years.

Activists have demanded that the IDF exempt all haredi yeshiva students from the draft, and have encouraged supporters not to comply with draft officials – even for the securing of service deferments.

At present, full-time yeshiva students are offered annual draft deferments, which may be renewed each year without limit.