Following the arrest of 30 protesters who were protesting on Tuesday afternoon and evening in front of the IDF recruitment office in Jerusalem, the IDF announced that the reason for their protest was ‘fake news.’

A rumor went out in the Charedi Jerusalem community, that the IDF had arrested a Charedi woman who was draft dodging. Following that rumor, Charedim, many from the Peleg faction, began a lengthy protest in front of the IDF recruitment office, which turned violent. However, after things calmed down following the arrest of some 30 protesters, the IDF anounced that no such arrest had been made and that there was no female Charedi draft dodger who was detained.

An IDF spokesperson said: “The IDF refutes the faulty advertised story regarding the arrest of a female Charedi draft dodger. The IDF condemns any and all violence against security forces and wishes to emphasize that no such action will cause the IDF to pause from enlisting those legally bound to serve in the military or other security position, according to Israeli law.”

Hundreds of members of the Edah Charedis spent the majority of the day protesting with the backing of recognized Sephardic Rabbinical figures. This backing came due to the rumors that the IDF had detained a female Charedi draft dodger since yesterday. Something which the IDF says is simply not true.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)