Israel faces large ultra‑Orthodox protests against military draft

Thousands of ultra‑Orthodox Jews gathered in Israel to protest the military conscription of their community. Demonstrators blocked major highways and railway lines, disrupted public transport and clashed with police. Some protesters wore yellow stars, equating the detention of draft evaders with historical persecution.

The rallies demanded the release of men arrested for evading the draft and highlighted longstanding exemptions and subsidies enjoyed by the Haredi sector. Authorities warned of manpower shortages in the Israel Defense Forces as the protests intensified, raising questions about equality before the law and the balance between religious study and national service.