Israel Thousands of ultra-Orthodox Jews protest against conscription

In Israel, the dispute over the introduction of compulsory military service for ultra-Orthodox Jews is escalating. Thousands of strictly religious men protested in Jerusalem yesterday in fury against the court-ordered obligation to perform military service in the Israeli army. According to local media reports, there were violent clashes with the police in the city in the evening. The police used mounted officers and a water cannon against angry demonstrators.

According to the police, stones and objects were thrown at the officers from the ranks of the strictly religious men dressed in black, and garbage cans were set on fire. Several police officers were injured, the "Times of Israel" reported that night. Five rioters were arrested. The angry protests were triggered by a recent ruling by the highest court in the Jewish state, according to which ultra-Orthodox men must now also serve in the army. The ruling was made against the backdrop of the Gaza war and the conflict with the Hezbollah militia in Lebanon.

"We will die"

According to the Times of Israel, the demonstrators carried signs reading "We will not join the enemy army" and "We will die" instead of serving in the army. The ultra-Orthodox see military service as a threat to their pious lifestyle, partly because women and men serve together. In Israel, men must regularly serve three years in the army, women two years. For decades, there were exceptions to compulsory military service for ultra-Orthodox men. However, these expired three months ago.

The ruling by the highest court is considered a serious setback for the right-wing religious government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The issue of compulsory military service had recently become an increasing test for his coalition. Observers believe that the stability of the alliance is threatened by the dispute because the government also relies on strictly religious partners who strictly reject the conscription of young men from their community.

According to the Times of Israel, some demonstrators attacked the car of the chairman of the ultra-Orthodox United Torah Judaism party as he was on his way home. According to media reports, the demonstrators threw stones at the car and insulted the party leader as he drove past. The Israeli broadcaster Kan published a video on the X platform in which ultra-Orthodox protesters can be seen surrounding his car. According to media reports, the police intervened and brought him to safety.

The ruling coalition had already collapsed in 2018 over a dispute about a law that would gradually oblige more strictly religious men to serve in the armed forces. Netanyahu's government had now failed to pass a law that would have cemented the easing of restrictions. As a result, the supreme court ordered the removal of state subsidies for ultra-Orthodox people of military age who study in religious schools.

Army warns of soldier shortage

Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara also ruled at the end of March that the military was obliged to conscript religious students who had previously been largely exempt from service. According to the court, this involves 63,000 men. Many Israelis feel it is unfair that the ultra-Orthodox are exempt from military service and dangerous combat missions. However, there are also ultra-Orthodox men who serve voluntarily. The army recently warned of a shortage of combat soldiers in light of the Gaza war.

Soldiers injured in drone attack

According to the Israeli army, 18 of its soldiers were injured in a drone attack on the northern Golan Heights. One of them was taken to hospital with serious injuries, the military announced. In response to the attack, the air force attacked positions of the pro-Iranian Hezbollah militia in southern Lebanon. A launching pad was also bombed, from which a projectile was fired at northern Israel. In addition, Israel's own artillery "eliminated threats" in several areas in southern Lebanon. The information could not be independently verified.

Israel and the Lebanese Shiite militia Hezbollah have been exchanging fire since the beginning of the Gaza war around nine months ago, and the intensity of the fighting has recently increased significantly. The militia has repeatedly declared that Israel must end the war in Gaza against its ally, the Islamist Hamas, before it stops firing on Israel. There are concerns that a possible open war between Israel and Lebanon could escalate into a regional conflict in which the USA and Iran could also be drawn into.

SDA