Clashes with police put ultra-Orthodox Haredi Jews draft issue at center of Israel’s election campaign

Clashes between Israeli police and hundreds of ultra-Orthodox Haredi Jews in central Israel on Monday evening brought one of the country’s most contentious issues to the forefront of campaigning ahead of the Oct. 27 election, Anadolu reports.

Israeli opposition leaders on Tuesday blamed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government for allowing tens of thousands of Haredim to continue avoiding military service.

They pledged that if they form the next government, they would end widespread draft exemptions and halt funding for institutions whose students refuse to enlist.

The Haredim, represented mainly by the Shas and United Torah Judaism parties, have traditionally been key partners in Netanyahu-led governments, and he is expected to rely on their support in any potential coalition after the election.

The dispute has intensified as the Israeli army says it is facing troop shortages amid military operations on several fronts over the past three years.

The controversy escalated Monday after violent clashes between Haredi protesters and Israeli police, during which demonstrators called police officers “Nazis.”

Israeli public broadcaster KAN said hundreds of Haredim gathered outside the home of a man accused of evading military service in the city of Modi’in to protest his arrest.

Some demonstrators attempted to storm the building, triggering confrontations with police before the draft dodger was released, KAN said. Large police forces were deployed to the area.

The Israeli army said military police had conducted an operation in Modi’in as part of what it called efforts to enforce the Security Service Law against deserters and draft dodgers.

It said a large number of demonstrators gathered at the scene, obstructed military police and attempted to interfere with the arrest, prompting Israeli police to disperse them.

The army said enforcement operations against draft dodgers would continue.

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Opposition targets Netanyahu

Opposition leader Yair Lapid said police had arrested a Haredi man accused of evading military service before hundreds gathered, confronted officers and called them “Nazis.”

“Is there no rule of law in this country?” Lapid wrote on US social media company X, while also criticizing National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir over the incident, calling him a “coward.”

Democrats party leader Yair Golan accused Netanyahu of continuing to finance draft evasion to preserve his governing coalition.

Golan said the upcoming election would provide an opportunity to end funding for draft evasion, introduce broader military conscription and restore what he called the rule of law.

Yashar party leader Gadi Eisenkot, a former Israeli army chief of staff, said the events in Modi’in were not isolated but reflected an effort to normalize the avoidance of military service.

He said a government under his leadership would enact what he described as a “real conscription law” aimed at increasing military manpower and ending a situation in which some Israelis serve while others do not.

Eisenkot said the Haredi draft issue had become central to the election, portraying the vote as a choice between another Netanyahu government that maintains the current system and a government that would enforce conscription.

Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, leader of the Together party, also blamed Netanyahu and his political partners for the situation.

Bennett pledged that under a government led by him, “no one who does not serve will receive a single shekel.”

​​​​​​​Long-running draft dispute

Haredim account for around 13% of Israel’s population of more than 10 million.

Many refuse military service on religious grounds, arguing that they should devote themselves to Torah study and expressing concern that integration into secular society could undermine their religious way of life.

The dispute over Haredi conscription has intensified amid continued call-ups of reservists as Israeli military operations continue on several fronts, including Gaza, Lebanon, Iran and the occupied West Bank.

For decades, Haredi men received repeated military service deferments while studying at religious seminaries until they reached the age of exemption.

In June 2024, Israel’s Supreme Court ruled that ultra-Orthodox Haredi men were subject to military conscription and ordered an end to state funding for religious institutions whose students refused to enlist.

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