JERUSALEM — A sea of black coats and wide-brimmed hats filled the streets of Jerusalem on Thursday as thousands of ultra-Orthodox Jewish men rallied against Israel’s push to end their long-held exemption from mandatory military service; a move that threatens to unravel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s already fragile coalition, according to NDTV.
Chanting prayers and carrying placards denouncing the draft, demonstrators blocked major roads, setting fire to tarps as police deployed 2,000 officers to contain the unrest. The protest, one of the largest in years, erupted after a recent crackdown on draft evaders and a June Supreme Court ruling that struck down the exemption policy that dates back to Israel’s founding in 1948.
For decades, men who devote themselves full time to studying sacred Jewish texts were excused from service, a concession originally granted when the ultra Orthodox community was small and war torn Israel needed unity above all else. Today, however, the group represents roughly 14 percent of Israel’s Jewish population, with more than 60,000 men of military age shielded from conscription.
The Gaza war has intensified the debate. With Israeli forces stretched thin and public anger rising, pressure is mounting on Netanyahu to end the exemption. But his ultra Orthodox allies; the Shas and United Torah Judaism parties insist they will abandon his coalition if the government fails to protect their followers’ right to avoid the army.
In July, ministers from Shas resigned from the cabinet in protest, though the party remains in parliament. United Torah Judaism has already quit the government entirely. The coalition now teeters with just 60 seats in the 120-member Knesset, leaving Netanyahu’s survival in doubt.
Supporters of conscription say equality demands that all Israelis share the burden of defense. Many rabbis, however, warn that military life could erode their community’s religious devotion.
For now, Jerusalem’s streets echo with their defiance, a vivid reminder that Israel’s struggle to balance faith, duty, and democracy remains far from over.
