Dozens of haredi (ultra-Orthodox) protesters attempted to storm the Oz military police station in Jerusalem after a suspected IDF deserter was arrested overnight between Sunday and Monday, Israel Police said.
The protesters gathered outside the station, the police stated, causing chaos and damaging the tires of three police cars.
Officers from the station, as well as members of the police's Special Patrol Unit and Border Police officers, prevented the protesters from entering and dispersed them "through the usage of force and by means of dispersal of demonstrations."
One Border Police officer was lightly injured during the altercation, the police said.
"The Israel Police views seriously the inappropriate behavior of the rioters, who arrived at the scene with the aim of causing damage and disrupting the activities of the forces," the police stated, "And therefore the police acted decisively, with zero tolerance and a heavy hand against any manifestation of violence and violation of public order, in order to maintain law and order."
Democrats party leader Yair Golan blamed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government for the altercation, claiming that it was a result of its "policy of evasion."
"While our finest sons and daughters risk their lives on the front lines, the coalition provides tailwind to violent lawbreaking by deserters," he stated in a post on X/Twitter.
"The rule of law must be enforced with an iron fist, and anyone who raises a hand against the security forces belongs behind bars and bolts."
Jerusalem haredi groups plan Tuesday protests
On Sunday, members of the anti-draft Jerusalem Faction (Peleg Yerushalmi) hung posters inviting the community to a series of protests scheduled in Jerusalem for Tuesday.
The protests are due to last "from the early hours of the morning for all the hours of the day," and target both IDF recruitment and the imprisonment of haredi deserters and draft dodgers.
"All those whose feet stood on Mount Sinai will be there at the demonstration of rage," the posters declared.