Hundreds of ultra-Orthodox extremists blocked a major road in Jerusalem on Tuesday, protesting an event honoring Haredi soldiers. Demonstrators attempted to storm the venue but were repelled by law enforcement.
Chanting “We’ll die and won’t enlist,” protesters harassed attendees, clashed with passersby, and called Border Police officers “Nazis.” Some distributed flyers condemning Shas leader Aryeh Deri for supporting a compromise bill to draft yeshiva students.
A separate illegal protest outside the IDF draft office in Kiryat Ono led to one arrest for assaulting an officer. The demonstrations come as Israel moves to draft more Haredim amid an ongoing military personnel shortage due to the Gaza war.
The IDF has created gender-segregated units to accommodate ultra-Orthodox recruits and recently established its first Haredi air force unit. The event, marking 25 years since the first Haredi battalion, included a job fair for veterans.
Despite legal rulings ending automatic exemptions, enlistment remains low, with thousands ignoring draft orders. The military has begun issuing travel bans for draft dodgers, heightening tensions in a community expected to make up a third of Israel’s population within 30 years.
