Newlywed yeshiva student jailed 20 days after bus stop arrest
Military police detained Yaari Lieberman in civilian clothes during a wedding week celebration, prompting demands for release from Haredi party leaders.
By Camila Herrera ·
Yaari Lieberman, an ultra-Orthodox yeshiva student, received a 20-day jail sentence from a military court on Sunday. The detention occurred just days after his wedding, while he and his wife were traveling to a family celebration.
Lieberman was arrested by Israel Defense Forces Military Police officers who were dressed in civilian clothes. The officers did not wear identification badges and reportedly did not identify themselves to his wife. They tracked him using his cellphone's location.
The arrest took place as the couple stepped off a bus. They were heading to a Sheva Brachot, a traditional festive meal held during the week following a Jewish wedding. Lieberman was taken from the scene and transferred to a military prison.
Political leaders from the Haredi community demanded his immediate release following the sentencing. Agudat Yisrael chairman MK Yitzhak Goldknopf blamed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the incident.
Goldknopf stated that the arrest of a groom in front of his bride was a new low in the treatment of Torah scholars. He described the pursuit of yeshiva students as crossing lines of humanity and sensitivity. Goldknopf accused Netanyahu of failing to pass legislation regulating the status of yeshiva students, calling the resulting arrests a disgrace.
MK Yaakov Asher, chairman of United Torah Judaism, appealed to the defense minister on Sunday. Asher requested intervention to secure Lieberman's release and return him to his family. He described the arrest as an opaqueness that knows no bounds and said the country is not a police state.
MK Yinon Azoulay, chairman of the Shas party, moved to sign an urgent petition. The petition calls on the defense minister to ensure the newlywed student is released immediately.
Sunday's detention was the second attempt by Military Police to arrest Lieberman. On October 6, officers went to his parents' home in Modi'in. Protesters gathered outside the residence and prevented the officers from taking him into custody. The standoff lasted approximately two hours.
The incident is expected to trigger violent demonstrations in the coming days. Tensions are rising within the Haredi community over the enforcement of mandatory IDF draft requirements. Haredi party representatives continue to demand legislation that would regulate the military service status of yeshiva students to prevent further arrests.
