Ultra-Orthodox Jews protest "Israel's" mandatory military draft

Ultra-Orthodox Jews staged a protest on Monday outside a military recruitment center near Tel Aviv, voicing their opposition to mandatory conscription.

The demonstration unfolded in the Tel Hashomer neighborhood, targeting the conscription of students from religious institutions, "Israel’s" public broadcaster KAN reported.

KAN noted that the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) had drastically lowered its recruitment expectations for the ultra-Orthodox, also known as Haredim. Despite issuing over 10,000 draft notices, fewer than 1,000 students responded.

Originally, the IOF had intended to enlist 280 Haredi soldiers into the Hashmonaim Brigade, a special infantry unit for the religious community, but that target has been slashed to just 80 due to a severe lack of volunteers.

The Haredi community, which represents around 13 percent of "Israel’s" 10 million citizens, has ramped up its protests following a pivotal Supreme Court ruling on June 25, 2024. The court ordered the enlistment of Haredi men and froze state funding for yeshivas whose students refuse to serve.

Members of the Haredi community insist that Torah study remains their foremost obligation and fear that integrating into secular "Israeli" society could erode their religious traditions. For years, Haredi men have largely avoided mandatory service by enrolling in yeshivas, receiving repeated deferments until they age out of the draft at 26.

Meanwhile, political tensions have intensified, with critics accusing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of attempting to pass legislation that would reinstate Haredi draft exemptions to secure the loyalty of his coalition allies, Shas and United Torah Judaism. Opponents warn that such a move could destabilize his government.