Israel protests over Haredi draft evasion arrests

Hundreds of demonstrators gathered in Jerusalem and Beit Shemesh on Monday evening to protest the arrest of yeshiva students accused of evading military conscription. Protesters set fire to light‑rail tracks, blocked major roads such as Bar‑Ilan Street and Chaim Bar‑Lev Boulevard, and threw objects at police before officers used crowd‑control measures to disperse the crowd. The closures caused significant traffic congestion and authorities advised motorists to avoid the affected areas.

The unrest reflects a broader crisis in Israel’s armed forces, which reports a shortage of roughly 12,000 regular troops. The Haredi community, numbering about 1.5 million, has a low enlistment rate—around 10 % of draft‑eligible men, compared with about 70 % of other Jewish Israelis—fueling tension over compulsory service. Demonstrations have also taken place outside the Abu Kabir detention centre in Tel Aviv, highlighting the growing debate over the balance between religious study and military duty.