North faces haredi protest over Shabbat buses, anti-government protests to continue into night

Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) protesters disrupted traffic near Meron on Saturday, demonstrating against public transportation services operating before the conclusion of Shabbat. This incident marks the sixth consecutive week of similar demonstrations, with footage showing civilians attempting to clear the road and allow a bus to pass.

The Israel Police intervened to disperse the protest, and secular counterprotesters arrived at the scene. The demonstrations specifically target the operation of public transportation on Shabbat, a day of religious observance in Judaism.

In addition to the Shabbat-related protests, separate anti-government demonstrations are scheduled for Saturday night across northern Israel. These protests are planned for locations including Guma Junction, Kibbutz Eilon, Afula, Kabri, Nahariya, Tzemach, Rosh Pina, and Karmiel, according to Maariv.

Further anti-government protests are anticipated throughout the country on Saturday night, indicating a broader wave of public dissent beyond the specific issue of Shabbat transportation.