Ultra-Orthodox jews storm ‘Israeli’ military base over draft evader arrest
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Hundreds of ultra-Orthodox (Haredi) protesters breached the Beit Lid military base in central ‘Israel’, in protest against the arrest of a Haredi man accused of evading mandatory military service.
The base houses Neve Tzedek military prison and military courts.
According to the ‘Israeli’ military, the protesters acted violently and entered a restricted military area.
Haredi rioters breached the Beit Lid base, which houses the Neve Tzedek prison and military courts, this evening, according to the IDF.
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The military says an illegal protest began outside the base and the "protesters acted violently and entered the military area."
Military… pic.twitter.com/TovgUnQm1w
Military police subsequently removed all the demonstrators from the premises, and the ‘Israeli’ described the incident as concluded.
Video footage from the scene on Thursday showed chaotic nighttime confrontations between protesters, many wearing traditional Haredi attire, and soldiers, with physical pushing and detentions visible.
The breach is the latest in a series of protests by segments of ‘Israel's’ ultra-Orthodox community against efforts to enforce conscription.
Haredi men have historically received exemptions to pursue full-time religious studies, but legal and political pressures have intensified amid the ongoing need for military manpower.
Similar demonstrations have targeted the base and other sites in recent weeks, sometimes disrupting traffic and leading to clashes with authorities.
