Ultra-Orthodox Jews Protest Military Draft Near Jerusalem

Dozens of ultra-Orthodox Jews staged a protest near west Jerusalem on Monday against mandatory military conscription, amid ongoing tensions over the issue.

Videos shared on Israeli social media showed Haredi demonstrators blocking Route 38 near Beit Shemesh. Police said officers moved in to disperse the protesters and reopen the road after traffic was disrupted.

Authorities said demonstrators set up roadblocks and stood in the roadway, preventing vehicles from passing. The incident comes as friction between police and Haredi communities has intensified in recent months.

The protests follow a 2024 Israeli Supreme Court ruling that ended long-standing exemptions for ultra-Orthodox men and halted state funding for religious seminaries whose students refuse military service.

Ultra-Orthodox leaders argue that compulsory enlistment threatens their religious way of life, as many men devote themselves to full-time Torah study. The issue remains politically sensitive, with debate continuing over possible legislation that could restore exemptions.

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