Ultra-Orthodox protesters clash with police in Jerusalem over arrest of draft evader

Clashes in Jerusalem and near Tel Aviv

Late Sunday evening, clashes broke out in Jerusalem between ultra-Orthodox Jews and Israeli police after a member of the community who had failed to report for military service was arrested. According to the newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth, about 200 protesters blocked the tram tracks on Shivtei Israel Street. Police and border police dispersed the demonstration and reopened Chaim Bar-Lev Road; Channel 12 aired footage of stun grenades and water cannons being used. Earlier the same day, protesters blocked roads leading to a recruitment office near Tel Aviv, where clashes with police also occurred.

Why the conscription dispute has intensified

Military service remains a deeply divisive issue for the ultra-Orthodox (Haredim): many oppose conscription and demand exemptions for religious seminary students, while political parties and families of soldiers are pushing to abolish these exemptions. The conflict escalated after the legal basis for the mass exemptions was struck down and the authorities resumed searching for men sought for military service.

Political context

The conscription dispute is a key obstacle in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's efforts to form a government after the parliamentary elections on October 27. His bloc won 53 seats in the 120-member Knesset, compared with 48 for the opposition bloc led by Yashar party leader Gadi Eisenkot and 19 for the Arab parties; none of the blocs reached the 61 seats needed for a majority.