Three rioters were arrested after a haredi (ultra-Orthodox) protest near Bnei Brak turned violent on Thursday, resulting in three wounded Israel Police officers and multiple injured rioters.
Police declared the protest unlawful, and when the protesters did not disperse, officers used batons, flash grenades, and a water cannon to disperse them by force.
The police closed Highway 4 after protesters blocked the road. The closures affected the section between the Aluf Sadeh and Em Hamoshavot interchanges in both directions, as well as Bnei Brak's Jabotinsky Road.
The demonstrations spread to the light rail tracks in Petah Tikva, where police were working to clear the tracks.
Ben-Gvir accuses police commissioner of trying to appeal to Yair Golan
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir criticized Police Commissioner Daniel Levy over the police response to the demonstrations, accusing him of attempting to gain favor with Israel's opposition following Tuesday's elections.
"For several days now, the police commissioner has been behaving as though he wants to please the next government, thinking he will win favor with Yair Golan," Ben-Gvir said.
"The absurd scenes at the Geha Interchange are part of Levy's new agenda of currying favor with leftists," he added.
Ben-Gvir further accused Levy of changing his approach toward the haredi community immediately after the elections.
"It is regrettable that Levy, who spent a year and a half doing everything I asked of him, is now, the day after the elections, acting unlawfully against the haredim and turning them into his punching bag," Ben-Gvir said.