Ultra-Orthodox Protesters Clash with Police Near Tel Aviv Over Military Draft

Nov 17 – Ultra-Orthodox protesters clashed with Israeli police near Tel Aviv on Friday after the Israeli military issued new call-up orders for members of the community. The move, part of Israel’s efforts to strengthen its forces amid ongoing conflicts with Gaza and Lebanon, has sparked tensions between religious and secular Israelis.

The protests follow a June ruling by Israel’s Supreme Court, which stated that the defense ministry could no longer grant blanket exemptions to Jewish seminary students from military service. This exemption has been in place since 1948 when the ultra-Orthodox community was smaller.

On Friday, Israel’s defense ministry announced that 7,000 ultra-Orthodox men would begin receiving draft notices in the coming days, intensifying the debate over military service. The government is under growing pressure from reservists, many of whom have served extensively over the past year, to include ultra-Orthodox men in the draft.