Tens of thousands of ultra-Orthodox Jews staged widespread protests across Israel on Monday, blocking major roads and train lines, and setting vehicles on fire to oppose mandatory military conscription. The demonstrations brought significant disruption to the country's central region, including Jerusalem and the Tel Aviv metropolitan area.
Police Response and Disruption
Israeli police reported that demonstrators blocked key intersections and attacked a soldier who alighted from a bus near a protest site. Law enforcement struggled to manage the crowds, deploying water cannons and mounted police units. The protests caused the closure of highways and halted public transportation, severely impacting daily life.
Background on Military Exemptions
Military service is compulsory for most Jewish men and women in Israel. However, politically influential ultra-Orthodox parties have historically secured exemptions for their followers, allowing them to study in religious seminaries instead of serving. This system is now under threat, as many Israelis resent the exemptions, especially given the military's current strains.
Each year, approximately 13,000 ultra-Orthodox men reach conscription age, but fewer than 10% enlist, according to a parliamentary committee. With severe soldier shortages, the military seeks to extend mandatory service periods. Most Jewish men serve nearly three years, followed by reserve duty, while women serve two years.
Protesters' Perspectives
Demonstrator Israel Tropper stated, "This public is determined; they see this as a war for their lives. From their perspective, going into the Israeli army means giving up religion... we don’t want to give up our religion, so from our perspective it’s a war for our lives." He argued that forcibly conscripting tens of thousands who are vehemently opposed is impractical.
Some protesters held signs with slogans like "We would rather die as Jews than live as Zionists" and "We refuse to serve an army for the sake of the Zionist religion."
Political Implications
The issue is tearing apart Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's governing coalition, with ultra-Orthodox parties withdrawing support, potentially advancing elections by several weeks in the fall. The exemptions date back to 1948, when a small number of students sought to revive Jewish scholarship after the Holocaust. The Supreme Court deemed the exemptions illegal in 2017, but repeated extensions have kept them in place.
Among Israel's Jewish majority, military service is seen as a rite of passage and a melting pot. However, the insular ultra-Orthodox community fears that service would expose young people to secular influences. Israel is currently maintaining military operations in Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria, as well as fighting a war with Iran, stretching its forces to the breaking point.
