Day 5

Friday evening, October 20, 2017 was the fifth day of nationwide protests over the arrest of Orthodox Jews refusing to serve in the IDF. Protests took place in Jerusalem, Bnei Brak and Beis Shemesh and more. The largest protest took place outside the Russian Compound jail in Jerusalem. Friday evening prayers were held in the street.

Because it was the Sabbath, the Jewish protestors did not use cameras. The last time a protest took place on the Sabbath, on September 1, the police took advantage of the photography blackout to beat the protestors mercilessly.

This time, thanks to the Arab reporters covering the scene, the police exercised restraint. Eventually, the police succeeded in dispersing the crowds.