JERUSALEM — Thousands of Ultra-Orthodox Jewish demonstrators took to the streets of Jerusalem on Monday, blocking major roads and confronting police during protests against military conscription policies and the detention of draft resisters.
The demonstrations, organized by Haredi groups opposing compulsory military service for yeshiva students, brought traffic to a standstill at several key intersections across the city. Protesters sat on roads, formed human barricades, and disrupted public transportation as part of a broader nationwide campaign challenging recent efforts to increase the enlistment of Ultra-Orthodox men into the Israeli military.
Israeli police deployed large forces to the scene and used water cannons to disperse crowds after demonstrators refused orders to clear the roads. Officers carried out multiple arrests as authorities worked to restore traffic flow and reopen transportation routes affected by the protest.
The issue of military service has become one of Israel's most contentious political and social debates. For decades, many Haredi men studying full-time in religious institutions received exemptions or deferrals from compulsory military service, a policy rooted in agreements dating back to the state's early years.
However, growing public pressure and legal challenges have intensified calls for broader military participation among all sectors of Israeli society, particularly amid ongoing security concerns and the increased demand for military personnel. Critics argue that exemptions create an unequal burden on other citizens who are required to serve, while Haredi leaders maintain that Torah study is a fundamental pillar of Jewish life deserving special protection.
Many protesters carried signs condemning conscription efforts and denouncing the detention of young men who refused military service on religious grounds. Demonstrators described the campaign as a defense of their community's religious identity and way of life.
The protests in Jerusalem were part of a series of demonstrations held across Israel in recent months as tensions continue to grow between government authorities and segments of the Ultra-Orthodox community. The dispute has also become a major issue in Israeli politics, influencing coalition negotiations and debates over the future relationship between religion and the state.
As police cleared roads and traffic gradually resumed, organizers vowed to continue demonstrations until authorities halt efforts to draft yeshiva students and release those detained for refusing military service.
Photo by Jamal Awad / JNA Press.
