Tens of thousands of ultra-Orthodox Israelis demonstrated across Israel on Monday, blocking roads and trains and setting cars on fire to protest mandatory enlistment in Israel’s military. The protest largely crippled central Israel, with highways closed and public transportation halted in both Jerusalem and the Tel Aviv metro area.
Demonstrators blocked major intersections and attacked a soldier who disembarked from a bus near a protest, according to police. Protesters disrupted traffic on Highway 4, Highway 1, and at Jerusalem's Chords Bridge, and also blocked the city’s light rail system. Police struggled to control the crowds with water cannons and horses, and attempted to disperse protesters blocking the entrance to Jerusalem by redirecting vehicles.
Some protesters rioted outside the home of the commander of the National Traffic Police, prompting police to use flash grenades to disperse them. Others threw stones on Route 38 to block traffic, according to police. In Beit Shemesh, eight haredi protesters were arrested after breaking into a police station following the military police’s arrest of an alleged draft dodger. Footage shared by Israel Police showed numerous demonstrators gathered outside the station, and Israeli media reported that several rioters succeeded in entering the police compound.
All eight arrested protesters were later released after police admitted in court there was no evidence against them. A judge described the Beit Shemesh incident as one which indicated “a crossing of the line,” but ruled that arrests could not be ordered without evidence of forcible entry or violent acts.
Israel Tropper, a demonstrator in Jerusalem, said: “This public is determined, they see this as a war for their lives. From their perspective, going into the Israeli army means giving up religion. We don’t want to give up our religion, so from our perspective it’s a war for our lives.” Tropper added that there is no way to force tens of thousands of people vehemently opposed to military service to serve in the military.
Some protesters held signs stating “We would rather die as Jews than live as Zionists.” and “We refuse to serve an army for the sake of the Zionist religion.” Ultra-Orthodox parties have historically won exemptions for their followers to forgo military service and study in religious seminaries, but those exemptions are under threat. The issue is tearing apart Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s governing coalition, and ultra-Orthodox parties have withdrawn their support, possibly moving elections up by several weeks this fall.