Newlywed Haredi Student Jailed as Political Leaders Demand His Release

A haredi yeshiva student who had married only days earlier was arrested by IDF Military Police on Sunday while traveling with his wife to a family celebration for their wedding. Yaari Lieberman was subsequently sent to a military prison and received a 20-day jail sentence from a military court.

The arrest occurred after the couple stepped off a bus on their way to a Sheva Brachot meal. Such gatherings are traditionally held to celebrate Jewish newlyweds during the week after their wedding. Lieberman's detention in front of his wife prompted senior haredi politicians to condemn the authorities and call for his immediate release.

Reports said the officers involved wore civilian clothing and had no identification badges. They reportedly used Lieberman's cellphone location to track him. According to allegations about the encounter, the officers also failed to identify themselves to his wife as members of the Military Police, causing her to fear that her husband was being kidnapped.

Agudat Yisrael chairman MK Yitzhak Goldknopf criticized the arrest and blamed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the circumstances facing yeshiva students. He described the detention of a groom during the wedding celebration period as an unacceptable escalation in the pursuit of Torah scholars. Goldknopf also accused Netanyahu of failing to deliver on a promise to advance a law regulating yeshiva students' status, arguing that the prime minister bore responsibility for the resulting arrests.

United Torah Judaism chairman MK Yaakov Asher appealed to the defense minister on Sunday to intervene and have Lieberman released immediately. He criticized the treatment of the newlywed and demanded his return to his family. Shas chairman MK Yinon Azoulay also moved to sign an urgent petition seeking the defense minister's intervention to secure Lieberman's release.

Military Police had previously tried to arrest Lieberman on October 6 at his parents' home in Modi'in. Protesters gathered outside the residence and resisted the attempt. After roughly two hours of demonstrations, they reportedly prevented officers from taking him into custody.

The latest arrest is expected to spark violent demonstrations in the coming days as opposition grows within the haredi community to detentions of yeshiva students under mandatory draft enforcement. It comes during a continuing controversy over military service for ultra-Orthodox men and the lack of legislation regulating yeshiva students' military service status.

The defense establishment continues to enforce compulsory conscription requirements. Haredi party representatives, meanwhile, are pressing for legislation to regulate the students' status and prevent further arrests.