Israeli police officers disperse ultra-Orthodox Jewish men and boys blocking a road during a protest against the country's military draft, in Jerusalem, Wednesday, Sept.13, 2023. Demonstrators said they were protesting the arrest of an ultra-Orthodox man accused of evading the military draft. Military service is mandatory for most Jewish Israeli men, but the ultra-Orthodox often receive exemptions in order to continue their religious studies. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)
JERUSALEM (AP) – Hundreds of ultra-Orthodox men on Wednesday blocked a major Jerusalem intersection, snarling traffic and crippling public transportation across the city, in a demonstration against an attempt to force a community member to comply with the country’s mandatory military draft..
The demonstrators formed a large circle on the tracks of the city’s light rail, singing, dancing and praying. Train service was halted, and traffic was backed up for blocks.
The demonstration was a precursor of a looming battle over the country’s military draft.
Military service is compulsory for Jewish males, but politically powerful ultra-Orthodox parties have won exemptions for their communities to allow men to study full-time in religious seminaries. These exemptions have prompted widespread anger and resentment from the secular majority.
With the government working on a new draft law, ultra-Orthodox parties, which are a key coalition partner of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, hope to strengthen the system of exemptions. Opponents, including key members of a mass protest movement against Netanyahu’s judicial overhaul, say the exemptions are unfair and must end.
Although young ultra-Orthodox men are generally exempt from military service, they must still register with the army. Israeli media said Wednesday’s protest was triggered by the arrest of a young religious man who refused to file the paperwork.
Ultra orthodox jewish men during a protest in Bnei Brak, following the arrest of an ultra orhtoodox jewish man who failed to comply with their army draft, September 13, 2023. Photo by Avshalom Sassonil/Flash90Ultra orthodox jewish men during a protest in Bnei Brak, following the arrest of an ultra orhtoodox jewish man who failed to comply with their army draft, September 13, 2023. Photo by Avshalom Sassonil/Flash90Ultra orthodox jewish men during a protest in Bnei Brak, following the arrest of an ultra orhtoodox jewish man who failed to comply with their army draft, September 13, 2023. Photo by Avshalom Sassonil/Flash90Ultra orthodox jewish men during a protest in Rosh Pina, following the arrest of an ultra orhtoodox jewish man who failed to comply with their army draft, September 13, 2023. Photo by David Cohen/Flash90 *** Local Caption *** לשכת גיוס חרדים הפגנה גיוס ראש פינהUltra orthodox jewish men during a protest in Rosh Pina, following the arrest of an ultra orhtoodox jewish man who failed to comply with their army draft, September 13, 2023. Photo by David Cohen/Flash90 *** Local Caption *** לשכת גיוס חרדים הפגנה גיוס ראש פינהUltra orthodox jewish men during a protest in Jerusalem, following the arrest of an ultra orhtoodox jewish man who failed to comply with their army draft, September 13, 2023. Photo by Yonatan Sindel/Flash90 *** Local Caption *** ìùëú âéåñ çøãéí äôâðä âéåñUltra orthodox jewish men during a protest in Jerusalem, following the arrest of an ultra orhtoodox jewish man who failed to comply with their army draft, September 13, 2023. Photo by Yonatan Sindel/Flash90 *** Local Caption *** לשכת גיוס חרדים הפגנה גיוסUltra orthodox jewish men during a protest in Jerusalem, following the arrest of an ultra orhtoodox jewish man who failed to comply with their army draft, September 13, 2023. Photo by Yonatan Sindel/Flash90 *** Local Caption *** לשכת גיוס חרדים הפגנה גיוסUltra orthodox jewish men during a protest in Jerusalem, following the arrest of an ultra orhtoodox jewish man who failed to comply with their army draft, September 13, 2023. Photo by Yonatan Sindel/Flash90 *** Local Caption *** לשכת גיוס חרדים הפגנה גיוסUltra orthodox jewish men during a protest in Jerusalem, following the arrest of an ultra orhtoodox jewish man who failed to comply with their army draft, September 13, 2023. Photo by Yonatan Sindel/Flash90 *** Local Caption *** לשכת גיוס חרדים הפגנה גיוסUltra orthodox jewish men during a protest in Jerusalem, following the arrest of an ultra orhtoodox jewish man who failed to comply with their army draft, September 13, 2023. Photo by Yonatan Sindel/Flash90 *** Local Caption *** לשכת גיוס חרדים הפגנה גיוסUltra orthodox jewish men during a protest in Jerusalem, following the arrest of an ultra orhtoodox jewish man who failed to comply with their army draft, September 13, 2023. Photo by Yonatan Sindel/Flash90 *** Local Caption *** לשכת גיוס חרדים הפגנה גיוסUltra orthodox jewish men during a protest in Jerusalem, following the arrest of an ultra orhtoodox jewish man who failed to comply with their army draft, September 13, 2023. Photo by Yonatan Sindel/Flash90 *** Local Caption *** ìùëú âéåñ çøãéí äôâðä âéåñUltra orthodox jewish men during a protest in Jerusalem, following the arrest of an ultra orhtoodox jewish man who failed to comply with their army draft, September 13, 2023. Photo by Yonatan Sindel/Flash90 *** Local Caption *** לשכת גיוס חרדים הפגנה גיוסUltra orthodox jewish men during a protest in Jerusalem, following the arrest of an ultra orhtoodox jewish man who failed to comply with their army draft, September 13, 2023. Photo by Yonatan Sindel/Flash90 *** Local Caption *** לשכת גיוס חרדים הפגנה גיוסUltra orthodox jewish men during a protest in Jerusalem, following the arrest of an ultra orhtoodox jewish man who failed to comply with their army draft, September 13, 2023. Photo by Yonatan Sindel/Flash90 *** Local Caption *** לשכת גיוס חרדים הפגנה גיוסUltra orthodox jewish men during a protest in Jerusalem, following the arrest of an ultra orhtoodox jewish man who failed to comply with their army draft, September 13, 2023. Photo by Yonatan Sindel/Flash90 *** Local Caption *** לשכת גיוס חרדים הפגנה גיוסUltra orthodox jewish men during a protest in Jerusalem, following the arrest of an ultra orhtoodox jewish man who failed to comply with their army draft, September 13, 2023. Photo by Yonatan Sindel/Flash90 *** Local Caption *** לשכת גיוס חרדים הפגנה גיוסUltra orthodox jewish men during a protest in Jerusalem, following the arrest of an ultra orhtoodox jewish man who failed to comply with their army draft, September 13, 2023. Photo by Yonatan Sindel/Flash90 *** Local Caption *** לשכת גיוס חרדים הפגנה גיוסUltra orthodox jewish men during a protest in Jerusalem, following the arrest of an ultra orhtoodox jewish man who failed to comply with their army draft, September 13, 2023. Photo by Yonatan Sindel/Flash90 *** Local Caption *** לשכת גיוס חרדים הפגנה גיוסUltra orthodox jewish men during a protest in Jerusalem, following the arrest of an ultra orhtoodox jewish man who failed to comply with their army draft, September 13, 2023. Photo by Yonatan Sindel/Flash90 *** Local Caption *** לשכת גיוס חרדים הפגנה גיוסUltra orthodox jewish men during a protest in Jerusalem, following the arrest of an ultra orhtoodox jewish man who failed to comply with their army draft, September 13, 2023. Photo by Yonatan Sindel/Flash90 *** Local Caption *** לשכת גיוס חרדים הפגנה גיוסUltra orthodox jewish men during a protest in Jerusalem, following the arrest of an ultra orhtoodox jewish man who failed to comply with their army draft, September 13, 2023. Photo by Yonatan Sindel/Flash90 *** Local Caption *** לשכת גיוס חרדים הפגנה גיוס
This protest is a far cry from the violent and much more disruptive protests from the far Left parties.
shloime
1 year ago
#2092493
they should be as brave defending eretz yisrael as they are at undermining it.
judith
1 year ago
#2092350
Usually the reason to not file the paperwork because they don’t recognize the validity of the State , in which case , they shouldn’t accept any public benefits whatsoever, including health care.
Menachem
1 year ago
#2092411
Do the police in Tel Aviv act with the same aggressiveness?
cracker
1 year ago
#2092654
I hope someone who protests knows someone who has to go to the hospital and the person dies cuz the roads are blocked u bunch of sick idiot pigs
lazerx
1 year ago
#2092499
nothing illegal here. we learn that this is NOT illegal from the Kaplan Force that blocks the Ayalon highway, attacks police and burns tires, etc. The courts are behind them so it can’t be illegal
Larry Israel
11 months ago
#2093312
Their behavior is disgusting. They can have their exemption is the ask for it, but they are demanding that the government give exemptions to anyone, without his asking for it They are just denying the powers of the government.
This protest is a far cry from the violent and much more disruptive protests from the far Left parties.
they should be as brave defending eretz yisrael as they are at undermining it.
Usually the reason to not file the paperwork because they don’t recognize the validity of the State , in which case , they shouldn’t accept any public benefits whatsoever, including health care.
Do the police in Tel Aviv act with the same aggressiveness?
I hope someone who protests knows someone who has to go to the hospital and the person dies cuz the roads are blocked u bunch of sick idiot pigs
nothing illegal here. we learn that this is NOT illegal from the Kaplan Force that blocks the Ayalon highway, attacks police and burns tires, etc. The courts are behind them so it can’t be illegal
Their behavior is disgusting. They can have their exemption is the ask for it, but they are demanding that the government give exemptions to anyone, without his asking for it They are just denying the powers of the government.