Ultra-Orthodox protesters clash with 'Israeli' police, storm facility

• On-scene footage shows physical confrontations between demonstrators and military police officers
• 'Israeli' police arrested two demonstrators during Wednesday evening's incident

Clashes erupted in the ultra-Orthodox city of Bnei Brak, east of Tel Aviv over the past week as dozens of Haredi protesters opposed to military conscription attempted to storm an office building housing an 'Israeli' army technology training program.

The demonstration targeted a facility operating 'Israeli' forces "Kodkod" initiative, a specialized program that trains ultra-Orthodox recruits, many aged 23 and older who do not serve in combat roles, in software development and cybersecurity. 'Israeli' media reported that while some demonstrators managed to breach the building's interior, they were intercepted before reaching the floor where military personnel were stationed.

Video footage from the scene captures the clashes along the street outside the complex. In the clip, 'Israeli' forces are seen physically pulling and dragging Haredi demonstrators away from cars and off the pavement as protesters chant slogans against enlistment. Several demonstrators positioned themselves under vehicles or sat on the road to block traffic and delay police movement before being removed.

'Israeli' police stated that two demonstrators were arrested during the clashes. Media outlets noted that Wednesday’s incident marked the third attempt in a single week by anti-draft demonstrators to force entry into the Kodkod facility.

Opponents of conscription have increasingly targeted the program because its success in recruiting non-uniformed Haredi men into military technology tracks is seen by religious hardliners as an effort to integrate the ultra-Orthodox community into the army.

The breach attempt drew swift political condemnation amid ongoing debate among 'Israelis' surrounding conscription following the Supreme Court’s June 2024 ruling ending broad Haredi draft exemptions.

Yisrael Beytenu party leader Avigdor Lieberman condemned the protesters, stating that anyone attempting to storm an army base or military facility should be treated as a "terrorist" and face arrest and imprisonment. Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Shas party leader Aryeh Deri, accusing leadership of encouraging draft evasion at the expense of active military personnel and pledging to redirect state funding away from draft evaders following the October 27 elections.