Tens of thousands of ultra-Orthodox Israelis were anticipated to converge in Jerusalem on Thursday for a major demonstration. This gathering aims to protest current proposals to enlist some members of their community into the military, an event poised to further exacerbate tensions within a nation already grappling with two years of intense conflict.
This powerful display of opposition comes amidst a concerted effort by the Israeli government. Authorities are striving to forge a legal and political consensus that would finally put an end to the long-standing practice of exempting most ultra-Orthodox seminary students from compulsory military service.
The preferential treatment afforded to Haredi students has fueled widespread public resentment for many years. This frustration has intensified significantly following the Hamas-led attack on Israel in October 2023, which plunged the region into wars in Gaza and Lebanon. These conflicts have seen hundreds of soldiers lose their lives and tens of thousands of reservists deployed for multiple tours of duty, highlighting the perceived imbalance in national burden.
In Israel, military service is mandatory for most Jewish citizens once they turn 18, applying to both men and women.
Last year, Israel’s Supreme Court delivered a landmark ruling, asserting that there was no legal justification for these military exemptions. The court mandated that, in the absence of new legislation, the army must proceed with drafting ultra-Orthodox Jewish men. Recent demonstrations in Jerusalem saw protesters burning posters, a stark visual representation of their fervent opposition.
The military has indicated a need for an additional 12,000 soldiers to adequately staff its forces. Currently, tens of thousands of ultra-Orthodox men of draft age do not partake in military service.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s political survival has long been intertwined with the support of ultra-Orthodox parties. His government is now working on a new bill designed to simultaneously address the military’s manpower requirements while preserving the delicate balance of his right-wing and religiously conservative coalition.
However, critics argue that the proposed legislation falls short, suggesting it would largely permit most ultra-Orthodox Israelis to continue avoiding the draft. They point to low enlistment quotas and minimal, delayed penalties for non-compliance as significant flaws. Footage from Jerusalem on Thursday showed a large gathering of ultra-Orthodox Israelis demonstrating en masse.
Leaders of the ultra-Orthodox community, known as Haredim, which translates to “those who tremble before God,” have dubbed Thursday’s event a “march of the million.” They framed it as a prayer vigil rather than a conventional protest, emphasizing its spiritual significance.
The demonstration was planned around Jerusalem’s western entrance, with expectations of widespread disruptions across the city and surrounding areas. A substantial section of the primary Jerusalem-Tel Aviv highway was closed in both directions, restricted solely to buses transporting demonstrators, and the city’s train station, conveniently located near the western entrance, was also slated for closure.
The exemption for Haredi seminary students dates back to the founding of modern Israel in 1948. This policy was initially enacted, in part, to help revive Torah scholarship which had been devastated during the Holocaust. At its inception, only a few hundred students benefited from this exemption. Today, however, the Haredim constitute at least 13 percent of Israel’s total population of 10 million.