In a tense standoff on Sunday, thousands of ultra-Orthodox Jews took to the streets of Jerusalem to protest against the conscription of Haredi yeshiva students into the Israeli military. The demonstration, organized primarily by the extremist Jerusalem Faction, quickly escalated into violence, resulting in multiple arrests and injuries.
As reported by CNN, AP and the Times of Israel, the situation quickly escalated as protesters targeted the car of Housing and Construction Minister Yitzhak Goldknopf, who heads the United Torah Judaism party, as he returned home. Demonstrators surrounded Goldknopf's vehicle, throwing stones, beating on the car, and hurling insults at the minister. Media footage captured protesters banging on the car's windows during the several-minute ordeal before police intervened.
Goldknopf's spokesperson confirmed that the minister was safely evacuated from the area and was uninjured. However, this wasn't an isolated incident. Shortly after, former UTJ leader and minister Yaakov Litzman's car was also attacked, with protesters smashing his windshield. Litzman was similarly rescued by police but later reported his car was ruined.
These attacks on prominent ultra-Orthodox politicians, who are themselves part of the government coalition, underscore the intensity of anger within some parts of the Haredi community over the conscription issue.
Throughout the protest, demonstrators set trash cans and parts of the road on fire, blocking major highways. Children and teenage protesters were seen walking near dumpster fires, highlighting the community-wide nature of the unrest.
Law enforcement responded with crowd dispersal tactics, including water cannons and mounted officers. Five arrests were made, with charges ranging from assaulting officers to throwing stones and other objects.
The protest stems from deep-seated tensions surrounding ultra-Orthodox military service in Israel. Demonstrators carried signs with slogans such as "We will not enlist in the enemy army" and "We will die and not enlist," blocking intersections in ultra-Orthodox neighborhoods.
Many in the Haredi community view military service as incompatible with their religious lifestyle and fear it could lead to secularization. The recent court ruling orders the government to draft ultra-Orthodox men and halt funding to religious schools (yeshivas) whose students don't participate in the draft.
This unrest occurs against the backdrop of Israel's ongoing conflict with Hamas in Gaza, which has heightened the need for military personnel. The government now faces the challenging task of balancing national security needs with the deeply held beliefs of the ultra-Orthodox community.
Police remain in the area to direct traffic and prevent further disturbances. In a statement, they condemned the violent actions, emphasizing, "There is no connection between a lawful protest and criminal and violent conduct of this type – which may lead to injury to body and property."
As tensions continue to simmer, the coming days and weeks are likely to see ongoing debate and potentially more unrest as Israel grapples with this contentious issue.
