Arrests in Israel

Ultra-Orthodox protest against compulsory military service

Protesters in the Jerusalem district of Mea Sharim vented their displeasure at the obligation of ultra-Orthodox Jews to perform military service - the police deployed water cannons.(Bild: APA/Associated Press)

Thousands of ultra-Orthodox men in Israel have protested against compulsory military service. According to local media reports, there were violent clashes with the police in Jerusalem last night. Using mounted officers and a water cannon, the police tried to disperse the demonstrators, who were dressed in black suits. Police officers were attacked and stones were thrown at them. Five rioters were arrested.

The protests were triggered by a recent ruling by the country's highest court, according to which ultra-Orthodox men must now also be conscripted into military service. The ruling is seen as a setback for the right-wing religious government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

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State subsidies for ultra-Orthodox students canceled
For decades, there were exemptions for ultra-Orthodox men from compulsory military service in Israel. However, these expired three months ago. Netanyahu's government did not succeed in passing a law to cement the exemptions. As a result, the Supreme Court ordered the removal of state subsidies for ultra-Orthodox men of conscription age who study in religious schools.

63,000 men exempted from military service so far
Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara also ruled at the end of March that the military was obliged to conscript religious students who had previously been largely exempt from service. According to the court, this involves 63,000 men. The army recently warned of a drastic shortage of combat soldiers in light of the Gaza war. In addition, many Israelis feel it is unfair that ultra-Orthodox Jews are exempt from serving in the armed forces and dangerous combat missions.