Jerusalem braced for a massive demonstration on Thursday as tens of thousands of Ultra-Orthodox Israelis converged, protesting government initiatives to draft them into the military. This large-scale dissent threatens to exacerbate existing societal rifts within a nation already grappling with two years of continuous conflict.
This formidable display of opposition emerges as the Israeli government seeks to broker a delicate legal and political solution regarding the long-standing military service exemptions traditionally granted to Ultra-Orthodox seminary students.
For decades, this privilege has fueled considerable public discontent, intensifying dramatically after the devastating Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, which plunged Israel into prolonged wars in Gaza and Lebanon. The tragic loss of hundreds of soldiers and the repeated deployments of tens of thousands of reservists have brought this issue to a critical boiling point.
In Israel, military service is mandatory for most Jewish citizens, men and women alike, upon reaching the age of 18.
Last year, Israel’s Supreme Court declared these military exemptions for Ultra-Orthodox men legally invalid, stating that without new legislation, the military must proceed with their conscription.
The military has openly stated a pressing need for an additional 12,000 soldiers to adequately staff its forces. Currently, tens of thousands of Ultra-Orthodox men who are eligible for draft remain un-enlisted.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s political survival has historically depended on the unwavering support of Ultra-Orthodox parties. His government is now attempting to craft legislation that would partially satisfy the military’s demand for more recruits while crucially preserving the stability of his right-wing, religiously conservative coalition.
However, critics argue that the proposed bill is flawed, contending that it would largely enable Ultra-Orthodox Israelis to continue evading conscription through low recruitment quotas and weak, delayed penalties for non-compliance.
Leaders of the Ultra-Orthodox community, also known as Haredim — a Hebrew term meaning ‘those who tremble before God’ — have grandly named Thursday’s event a ‘march of the million,’ deliberately framing it as a solemn prayer vigil instead of a political protest.
The massive assembly is planned for Jerusalem’s western entrance, anticipating significant traffic disruptions both within the city and surrounding areas. Major segments of the Jerusalem-Tel Aviv highway were closed in both directions, reserved exclusively for buses transporting demonstrators, and the city’s main train station near the western entrance was also slated for closure.
This controversial exemption dates back to the very foundation of modern Israel in 1948, initially granted to Haredi seminary students to help restore the religious scholarship severely depleted by the Holocaust.
While only a few hundred students were granted this status initially, the Haredi population has since grown significantly, now accounting for at least 13% of Israel’s 10 million residents.