Protesters Block Jerusalem Highway
Tensions boiled over on the streets of Jerusalem on Monday as ultra-Orthodox demonstrators clashed with police over intensifying military conscription enforcement and the arrest of community members for ‘dodging the draft.’
Footage shows hundreds blocking Highway 1 by Strings Bridge, paralysing the western entrance to Jerusalem before police officers moved in to disperse the crowd, deploying water cannons and dragging protesters away from the road.
Opposition to Military Conscription
“All they did wrong was sit and learn and the country that calls itself Jewish does not let them sit and learn. They take them and arrest them due to the draft law,” one protester said.
“Now, even if we all agree that there’s a need in soldiers, the way to do that is definitely not to arrest people, because that will not bring [us] anywhere besides for chaos,” he continued.
The protester maintained that the community shouldn’t be forced into service, asserting that the military does not provide the right environment or ‘tools’ to allow Haredi soldiers to preserve their ‘ultra-Orthodox life.’
Clashes Spread Across the City
Clashes were also reported in other parts of Jerusalem on Tuesday, with protesters allegedly attacking a local police station in northern tech park, Har Hotzvim. Additionally, local media said that crowds attempted to storm the private residence of Jerusalem’s traffic police commander.
According to reports, at least three police officers sustained injuries during the clashes, and two people were arrested at the traffic commander’s home.
Supreme Court Ruling Fuels Debate
Last year, the Israeli Supreme Court ruled that ultra-Orthodox men must perform mandatory military service, in line with requirements that apply to most Israeli men and women from the age of 18. The ruling ended decades of exemptions that had allowed many ultra-Orthodox men to avoid conscription.
The ultra-Orthodox community maintains that it contributes to Israel’s security and protection through religious study and prayer rather than military service. However, recent political and legal discussions have increased pressure on the Haredi population to integrate into the Israel Defense Forces, leading to recurring protests and political debates.
Article by Viory
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